Santa gave me the lurgy

Merry Christmas everyone!

Hope you're all having a lovely day with great levels. I'm pretty full at the minute but haven't scoffed myself into oblivion, few sneaky choccies but apart from that I've been very good!

My levels today so far have been:

Pre-breakfast 6.6 

Pre-Xmas feast 5.4

Post-Xmas feast 6.4

I'm sooo chuffed with that! The advice my DSN gave me about the lantus is *touch wood* still keeping me under 10 on waking levels which is such a nice change from 10-11. Can't remember what my levels were last xmas, will have to have a root around to compare.

Well as the title reads, one of my presents today was the lurgy.

Words cannot describe how much I hate the lurgy. Despise it with a passion.

I know it can't be helped but I mean on Xmas day? Give me a break please! Its the third time I've had it this year, and each time I've been off work for a week or more. Its gotten me a bit upset, which I know is stupid on Xmas Day but I hate knowing how much it drains me for such a long time. I have a sore throat, a headache and feeling grumpy/anti social which isn't right on Xmas!

Drinking lots of fluids and popping the cold & flu tablets like there's no tomorrow so hopefully I can beat this pain in the arse before I go back to work on Wednesday and before NYE. The one god damn year I'm actually going out for NYE as well!!!

SOD YOU LURGY, YOU SHALL NOT BEAT ME!

Merry Xmas again from moi :)

xx

Disappointment and a close call

Hey folks

So my HbA1c has gone up from 8.1% to 8.4%.

Crap.

I thought it was going to be down a bit, not a massive amount. I just thought it'd have decreased a teeny bit. It would have been a nice early Christmas present for me.

<insert sad face here>

My consultant and DSN said they're pleased to hear I'm carb counting and that my results during the day aren't too bad. I mentioned that I'm waking up in the early teens most mornings so I've been told to up my lantus by a couple of units. They seem to think that this is when my sugars are creeping up... So I'm not going to dwell on my result, I'm going to start increasing my lantus tonight and see what happens tomorrow.

The close call came on the way home from my appointment... 

My friend from work kindly took me and whilst driving we found out the hard way that the dual carriage-way hadn't been gritted at all. We span around twice and ended up facing the oncoming traffic. Luckily there wasn't anyone in the other lane (which most people weren't using as it was covered with slush) and the guy behind us was far enough behind to stop and put his hazard lights on. 

Man I've never been so scared!

No screaming or crying involved but a lot of OMG-ing. Thank god for my friends quick reflexes or it could have been a very different ending. So please be careful when driving! Just because it looks safe doesn't mean it is.

Right a nice cuppa for me now!

xx

When the going gets tough...

Hey folks

Looking forward to Christmas?

I'm not feeling very Christmassy at the minute, work being incredibly busy has got me stressed out and very worn down. Today I've been very quiet and grumpy, wanting my own company. I've not felt 100% for the last week or so and my levels are determined to stick to 11 today as well which is bugging me a lot. Whether its hormones before my 'favourite' time of the month or not I don't know. I'm just fed up of everything.

Diabetes.
Work.
The weather.
All of it :(

I could really use a couple of months of hibernating in the warm.

Gahhh I don't like complaining as I know there are a lot of people who have a harder time with D than me but I need to vent.

Anyway, on a better note, I received some free raspberry glucotabs and berry burst gluco juice samples from Claire at Taste PR which I'll look forward to sampling when my levels start behaving themselves again! Never had glubo tabs before so it'll be interesting to finally try some! I've also got some info which I shall be having a read of later this evening. If you have any questions or would like a sample please contact Claire on claire@taste-pr.com. Thanks again Claire!

Right I'd better be off to do some more reading! Got my 4 monthly check up at the hospital tomorrow afternoon so wish me luck for a lower HbA1c!

xx

Gaahh stupid D!!

Hi folks

Hope you're all surviving the cold & snow!

I think I jinxed myself with my earlier post about how pleased I was with my blood sugars... today has been very confusing/frustrating!!!

All because of shower gel....

I had no idea that something like shower gel could affect your blood sugar so much! But apparently so. Tested after I'd finished drying my hair and nearly fell off my bed when I got a reading of 20!!! Tested again after 10 minuted and got a 16.4, realised the last time I tested shortly after a using the same shower gel my readings were high so I waited a while before testing again. 18!!! Couldn't believe it!

Thought sod it, I'm hungry so had my lunch & carb counted for it. Checked within half an hour and it was 13.4.

Confused is an understatement!!

6.3 this evening so I'm hoping that it was just the stupid shower coconut shower gel and not the dreaded lurgy coming back to haunt me..

Sorry for the rant but the D has really bugged the crap out of me today!!

:(

xx

Proof of the Ouch!

Hi folks

So I've had a pants day (and I'm a little bored) so I thought I'd show you my little war wound :D

Done a lot of Xmas card stuffing today so it aches like mad, plus it's been stressful at work so my sugars are running in the early teens.. luckily I had my blood taken before today!

xxx

*jab* OUCHIES!!!!!!

Hi folks *waves*

Hope you're all well and getting ready for Mr Claus next week! :)

So far I'm having a good week sugar wise, with more readings under 10 (even in the morning!) which I'm really pleased with. Love love love my carb counting book!! I'm remembering stuff now so I can take a rough guess when I'm out & about and I'm not too far off. If you don't own a carb counting book then look at the Amazon widget over here -->

My diabetic spidey senses are starting to work!!!

Anyways back to the point of my blog XP today was my blood test before my 4-monthly checkup at the hospital. Every time I go its a pain in the bum, my arteries sense the needle coming and collapse so it takes more than 2 trips to get any blood out. The nurses have even made a note on the system as to where they struck gold last time! I end up with two badly bruised arms unable to move very well & looking like I'm about to do some techno dancing ¬_¬

Today I got the nurse who is great at getting blood out, sweet little sixty-something year old but boy did she jab that needle in!!!! First time worked and it still hurts now (appointment was 9.30am). Got a nice blood blister that hurts like hell. Totally got worked up before hand & I was in and out within a couple of minutes.

Fingers crossed for a lower HbA1c this time... and that I've lost/maintained my weight since my last visit :)

Can't remember exact numbers but its gone from 9.x -> 7.x -> 8.x

Is it just me or does giving blood make you sleepy? *yawns*

:)

xxx

Handbags and Gladrags

Hi folks

Hope you're all okay and having a good weekend :)

Last night I had my second work Xmas do with D and I'm pleased to report that I had a good time AND my sugars behaved themselves all night AND this morning!

Pre-dinner: 8.9
I had a turkey xmas dinner with some veg, a malibu & diet coke and then a citrus tart for dessert
Post dinner (around 1/2 hour after): 11.0
Pre-lantus/bed: 9.3
This morning: 8.3

Last year they were sooooo much higher (italian food - but I wasn't carb counting then) so I am proper chuffed for a change! :D

Everyone looked great all glammed up (I wore a black 40s style frock) and although a couple of people did get a little worse for wear it was a good night and I'm glad I went, don't know why I was so nervous beforehand now!

Bring on Xmas and New Years!!!

:)

xxx

What are you looking forward to?

Hi folks

Not long till Xmas/NYE now, so what are you looking forward to in 2011?

I've got my first holiday to Florida as a diabetic which I'm looking forward to and slightly nervous about...

Turning 22!

Going to a diabetic meet and actually meeting the guys from the forum :)

My PDAC adjusting course hopefully making things easier with my sugars.

Having fun =D

xx

Must keep eyes open...

Hi folks

How are you all enjoying the snow? I'm very pleased to announce that so far I've not fallen over once! =D

What a week its been so far!

On Tuesday my nice little TV decided to slide off its bracket and scare everyone in the house to death. Me watching it at the time screamed my head off as it crashed on to my desk then floor. Parents thought I'd collapsed and hit my head... so they were yelling and ran upstairs. Didn't know whether to laugh or cry with shock! Sad to say my TV has now croaked it :( no more watching old videos in my room *sulks*

Last night was much calmer - I went with some friends to Northampton to see Ross Noble, which was brilliant! If you don't mind your comedy a little random then definately go and see him. No support act (or weird singer like Jethro) just him. My face hurt soooo much from laughing! Poor guy had a stinking cold but still did a full show and encore, plus any money made from selling merchandise etc went to charity which was really nice.

I managed to get a quick sneaky picture during the interval of his inflatable set

Didn't get home until after midnight so am reaaaallllyyyy sleepy now, trying to stay awake until at least 9 otherwise I'll be bolt upright at 4am!

My sugars are nearly back to normal after Mondays cock up although the weather seems to be affecting my hypo awareness.. I'm walking home from work at lunch to 3.X but not getting any symptoms. Could also be the fact that I'm on the early shift and eating my breakfast earlier than I'm used to. The problem is that if I have a rich tea about 10ish my sugar ends up at 10.X even though I've not eaten since about 7am :( Hopefully I can sort it soon as I don't want my HbA1c dropping just because of hypo's...

Uggh diabetes is such a BIG FAFF.

P.s sign JDRFs petition to increase UK funding for Type 1 Diabetes research here

Uhh Freak Out!

Hi folks

Hope you're all well and not freezing your butts off with all the snow :)

Up until today I've been doing well with my sugars, and have even gotten my 14 day average on my meter down from over 10 to 9.1 and now it's back up to 9.9. All because I went out for Sunday lunch :(

Decided to split my dose before going out as we would be eating a bit later than usual, plus it was a special birthday for my great aunt so they'd be cake/drink etc. Some people had starters so it took over half an hour before food was served so I did get low but then food arrived. Got home to a 10.6 which I was really surprised at. Really loved the food but it made us all very sleepy when we got home.

I had a nap. Not a wise choice.

Checked my sugars and hour and a half later. Care to take a guess?

31.8

I nearly died on the spot. I've never ever had a reading that high, even when I was first diagnosed. I'm so angry and mortified I don't want to tell my parents. Why didn't I test sooner? Why did I think 10.6 would last? Why have I screwed it all up when I was doing okay?
I've done my correction and had a good old cry about it, and am now 10.8. Feel sick everytime I think I let myself get to that, and it's now giving me headache.

Stupid, stupid, stupid.

Was looking forward to my HbA1c next month being lower than the previous one, but I guess not. Going to try as hard as I can to improve my levels in the next 3 weeks to reduce my 14 day average again and reduce my HbA1c.

Think I need to go find some more tissues, so I'll leave you with this... xx

Versatile Blogger Award

Hi folks

Came on to do my weekend blog reading catch up and found out that Scully at Canadian D-gal had very kindly nominated me for the versatile blogger award :)

*blushes*

There are 4 things that you must do in order to accept this award:

1. Thank the person who gave you the award

2. Share seven things about yourself

3. Pass the award on to 12 bloggers you have recently discovered and who you think are fantastic
4. Notify your nominees

 

1. Thank the person who gave you the award:

I am thanking Scully! A Canadian blogger who I've been following pretty much since I started my blog, and who I've hopefully introduced to some brill diabetes t-shirts!

2. Share seven things about yourself:

1. One of my worst habits is nail biting. I've been doing it since I could chew and have been caught in many school photo's biting away. I do have spells of letting them grow but then something happens or I get stressed and the nails are first to get it! Tried that stuff you dip your fingertips in to stop biting... but I kinda scrubbed it off :D

2. I like going to comedy gigs and in the past couple of years I've been to see Dara O'Briain, Rhod Gilbert, John Bishop, Jethro and I'm off to see Ross Noble at the beginning of December.

3. My favourite place to go on holiday is Orlando in Florida. We've been going there since I was about 6 and are going again next year as it'll probably be our last family holiday as just us 4. Love the theme parks/attractions and despite the food I never put on any weight as we do so much walking! :)

4. I really really really don't like creepy crawlies. If you come near me with one that's it, you're off the Xmas card list for good. I hate it when there's a story in the paper on some kid finding a tarantula in a shoe, and they have to show a mahoooosive picture with no warning on the page before ¬_¬ Not everyone loves big hairy spiders!!!!!!

5. Hate long advert breaks on TV but I absolutely hate the Go Compare man. (If you don't know who that is then YouTube it - please don't blame me if you end up chucking something at the screen whilst watching it)

6. I have a really sensitive nose, which means lots of things make me sneeze :( Strong perfumes/aftershaves can set me off in a matter of seconds which always amuses the girls at work. Plus I have hayfever, so the summer months are always fun! It means if I want to buy flowers for a birthday or something I can't step foot in a florists, someone else has to do it for me or I buy them from Sainsburys XP

7. It takes me a while to trust new people as I've been let down by many so-called friends over the past few years. I'm the last person on the list to call when they're bored but the first when they need advice. But over the past year and a bit the only people who have helped throughout are my family and girls from work who I've only known for about 2 years. So I've stopped being a doormat, told a few home truths and now have much better friends :D

3. Pass the award on to 12 bloggers you have recently discovered and who you think are fantastic.

1. Alan at http://forum100posts.blogspot.com/

2. Shiv at http://clickofthelight.blogspot.com/

3. Sam at http://www.talkingbloodglucose.com/

4. Mike at http://www.everydayupsanddowns.co.uk/

5. Karen at http://poetesslaureate-rhymeandreason.blogspot.com/

6. Alan at http://diabetespoetry.blogspot.com/

7. Becky at http://instructionsni.blogspot.com/ 

8. Emma at http://emzdiabetes.blogspot.com/

9. Chris at http://gryphonphotography.blogspot.com/ 

10. Sarah at http://www.sugabetic.com/

11. Karen at http://www.bittersweetdiabetes.com/

12. Bex at http://screaming-in-the-woods.blogspot.com/

7. Notify your nominees:
If you follow me, consider yourselves notified! :D 

I'm with stupid -->

Hi folks! *waves*

Been a while since my last post, nothing major or exciting to post I'm afraid apart from me being very dense this weekend! As some of you will have read it was the forum's second birthday this Sunday so there was a meet in London on Saturday. Took my friend from work (wearing my new Ducking Fiabetes t-shirt <3) and managed to to get to the pub without any problems on the tube but didn't recognise anyone!!

Silly Emma.

No phone numbers, no facebook details, nothing. Silly silly Emma.

Another friend said she was free so we ended up spending the afternoon having a nosey around Covent Gardens, stroking reindeer, and then getting stuck on the Piccadilly line for about 20 mins and nearly missing our train home! Nevermind, next time I will either stalk someone to get contact details or take a little forum home-made flag with me! On the plus side both me & my friend aren't train savvy at all but we managed to navigate ourselves round London pretty well :)

Anyway I've had a bit of a naughty weekend food-wise as I've had a 4 day weekend.. but back to work tomorrow so back to the normal routine. Luckily a lot of wandering around has kept my sugar levels pretty consistent. Retail therapy is good for my health :D

Hope you all had a great World Diabetes Day!

xx

P.S It's nearly 5 weeks to Christmas!! Have you started your shoping yet?

Do the BiG Blue Test, on World Diabetes Day

Hi folks

As most of you know World Diabetes Day is on November 14th 2010 and the Diabetes Hand Foundation have set up the 'Big Blue Test'

"http://BigBlueTest.org is a program of the Diabetes Hands Foundation (DHF). It takes place every November 14 (World Diabetes Day. People with diabetes are invited to test their blood sugar at 2 pm (local time), do 14 minutes of activity, test again and share the results.Nov. 14, 2010, DHF is aiming for a minimum of 100,000 views of its Big Blue Test promotional video. To help the foundation reach this goal, Roche Diabetes Care (makers of ACCU-CHEK® diabetes products and services), has underwritten the production of this video and will make a donation for every view the video receives up to $75,000. DHF will use the donation to help the Life for a Child program, run by the International Diabetes Federation, and Insulin For Life. These two global, humanitarian organizations provide diabetes medication and supplies to children in the world's poorest countries."



xx

Trick or Treat?

Happy Halloween everyone!

It's been a while since my last blog, due to my laptop trying to conk out on me :( but it's all been wiped and re-installed and lots of hours/downloads later it's all good!

I've finally (after about 2 weeks) got rid of the lurgy and my sugars are now more regular and starting to behave themselves again. Although I think the clocks going back might cause a blip or two...

Starting to look at my diet now and how I can improve my fruit & veg intake. I've never been a healthy eater but I never overload my plate or snack 24/7 I'm just not a fruit & veg fan :D


Now I'm doing more exercise and trying not to gain weight again, I need to improve my diet to shift a few extra pounds over the next few months. Especially with Christmas coming up! I've found some great recipes on the Diabetes UK Recipe site which I shall be trying out over the next few weeks along with monitoring my sugars and posting the results for you guys to see!

It's now less than 2 weeks until the Diabetes Support Forum meet in London for the forum's second birthday. It'll be my first one and I'm getting very excited about meeting the people who have helped me over the past few months! There's also a brill online t-shirt shop for Diabetics which I'm going to be using soon so I can wear one to the meet :)

Awesome Diabetic Tees!  <<< go have a look

A few busy weekends ahead of me, with the meet and going to see Jethro then Ross Noble. It's always fun going to a comedy gig when you don't know if the comedians going to do a Ken Dodd on you, especially when I do my Lantus around 10-10.30 XD I think I'm just going to have to inject during the intervals whenever they are, fingers crossed they fancy a breather between 9 and 10pm!

Anyway folks have a great Halloween, not long till bonfire night now!

xx

Welcome to Lurgyville. Population.... YOU!

Yes folks sods law has struck, a measly two days after my last blog. I have been defeated by the dreaded lurgy :(

Off work Friday and today and housebound throughout the weekend in my jammies. Even missing out on True Blood club this evening it's that bad.

Sugars have been slightly higher with one exception of a 22.3 on Sunday and haven't tested for ketones just yet.. that's the part I always forget to do when I'm ill. Lucky for me my medication review is today with my GP so I can ask if there's anything else I can take apart from the cold & flu tablets I'm taking at the minute. That's another thing about D, you never really know what you can/can't take when you're ill. Pill boxes always say 'consult your doctor'. Grrr I was okay taking them before diagnosis!!

I hate getting sick now, it never lasts one or two days anymore :(
It's always 5+ days which isn't good when you know things are getting hectic at work. Last time I got the lurgy I was off for just over two weeks. FOR A COLD! Uggh I shall have to start taking a surgical mask with me just in case. Or do a MJ with the scarves etc! Or maybe I could be like Bart Simpson in the ep where he lives in a bubble?

x

 

What a week!

Christmas is officially on the way and everything at work's suddenly going crazy! Starting to get a little stressy which is pushing my blood sugar levels up, been at about 10.0 for the last two days and doubt it'll improve as the week goes on... gahhhh as soon as it's the 26th everyone will relax again for another year!

On a happier note I've got the test strips for my new meter at last and I've been offered a place on an adjusting course early next year! Called the PDAC course and runs for 4 Fridays in a row from half 9 to half 3. Should have built up my confidence with driving by then so I'll be able to take myself :) Actually went out by myself for the first time at the weekend - no children, OAPs or animals were harmed! Anyway, really looking forward to the course. That alongside my carb counting book should keep my levels under control long-term. Plus it'll fall nicely before my holiday! :D

The flu jab that I had last week was perfect timing, the lurgy is once again making it's way through everyone at work! Touch wood I'm okay, but getting a bit run down so hopefully my immune system works this time - no time for flu or a cold!! Need to book myself in for the pneumonia jab next month too :( never had that one before so god knows if I'll end up having a reaction to it.

Most people don't realise all of the extra stuff that comes in with diabetes. All of the hospital, DSN, GP appointments and reviews throughout the year (most of which come with blood tests). All of the carb intake maths and timings - it's all 24/7 and you'll never get a break from it. If you're new to diabetes it'll test your patience to the limits at times but once you start getting to grips with it, it feels pretty good, and you'll certainly find out who your real friends are. If they don't stick around then it's their loss, you were probably too good for them anyway!

xx

The annual jab...

So today was D-Day for my second annual flu jab. Last year was quite funny as I was pretty much the only person under 60 apart from the receptionists! Even though I was stood in the queue (for well over half an hour) holding my little letter, I could feel the eyes burning a hole in me!!

Yes - SHOCK HORROR - some people under 60 do get the flu jab =O

Well this time it was completely different, they have extended our local sugery so I was in & out under 5 minutes!

In> Name > Are you allergic to eggs or anything else > Sharp scratch > Do you smoke > Out


So far my sugars are okay, just a dull achey arm like last year. PHEW! Most people say they get the flu afterwards but last year I was okay....  Hope you other flu jab survivers are too! :)

My DSN said that I might have to have a joint flu/pneumonia jab but only flu for me today so I'm not sure whether to book the pneumonia one on 4 weeks time or not.. Has anyone else had it??

Before my jab I went shopping with mum as a little pre-jab treat, got myself some nice new things and decided to wear my contacts instead of the usual specs (which has now given me a headache). Was very good at lunch and only had a panini instead of my usual fish & chips and even resisted added chips for 99p extra :) Sounds daft I know, but for someone who had 20 years of eating whatever it's quite good!

Wish me luck for no flu symptoms over the weekend!

xx

Sugars

My sugars have starting behaving at last! *woooooo*

Apart from a blip yesterday the carb counting is going well and I'm seeing a great difference in my results :D I think it's my new Bayer meter bringing me luck!

I also went to see my DSN today to get the new strips added to my prescription and she said to keep going with the carb counting and not to worry about the three readings of 13.0 I got yesterday for no apparent reason, just to up my lantus a couple of units and to come back if they remain constantly high. She also asked me if I'd booked my flu jab (which I'm having this weekend) and then said they might give me a pneumonia jab as well!!

As if I don't get enough injections already????

It's only one in 10 years, but the thought of two injections in a day killing my arms is not fun. Hopefully it's not like the swine flu jab which hurt for about a week..

She now wants to see me in February (giving me a chance to recover after Xmas XD) and I may have promised her that I'd be extra extra good at Xmas... might regret saying that :)

Speaking of Xmas (which technically doesn't start until the Coca Cola advert comes on), the work 'do' has now been organised and I've booked Friday off to possibly start some early Xmas shopping. Can't believe I'm pressie shopping when Halloween hasn't even arrived yet! Also it will be my 2-year anniversary on Friday when I started my job, which is really scary as I was 19, two stone heavier and a non diabetic when I started... what a difference a couple of years can make =/

Anyways, wish me luck for Saturday!

xx

New meter!

I gots a new BG meter!

A lovely lady from the Diabetes Support Forum had a spare Bayer Contour meter that she didn't need kindly sent it to me for free and it arrived today!

So far so good, I've set the high & low settings and the little pre-meal or post-meal markers. Not sure whether to buy the online software that goes with it or to wait a while and possibly buy the Bayer Contour USB meter that I saw a little while ago...

Plus my readings are actually okay! 7.6 before evening meal and 8.1 two hours after, just hope it stays down before bed. I keep waking up with 10+ readings and it's getting very frustrating!! I was hoping to talk to my GP at my meds review but that's not until next month when it should have been in August!! I decided to make an appointment with the Diabetic nurse at the surgery so I could discuss whether I need to split my dose or change to a different long acting insulin. That's next Tuesday so wish me luck!

It's now only 94 days until Xmas!! My second one as a diabetic which is a little scary - time is going too fast! I hope I can keep my sugars at a reasonable level and my will power holds up!

Now when to start Xmas shopping.....

xxx

Bad bad bad

Had a pretty rough 24 hours and still not feeling 100% now...

Blood sugar reading before bed was 19 so took my correction dose and waited over and hour to do my lantus, got down to 11.8 so I was much happier. Next thing I know is that I'm awake at nearly 1am having a hypo. One of my worst ones yet.

Woke up again at half 4 and decided to check again and I was at 20! Looked around my room to find bits of Caramel nibbles paper on the floor... luckily I hadn't eaten the whole lot but not really remembering that I'd eaten them wasn't a great feeling. Gave myself another dose of novorapid and woke again at 7am to another 11.8.

Felt awful and ashamed that I'd almost binged completely on chocolate like a crazy person. The choccies were for friends on monday evening! Still have a bad headache now but luckily my boss didn't mind me going home at lunch and making the 3 hours up tomorrow.

Feels like someone's bashed me on the head :'(

Think I need a sleep then a really sad film.

xx

30 things you may not know...

So it's nearly the end of Invisible Illness week, I've seen a few of the 30 things meme blogs and am jumping on the bandwagon as it's my first one as a diabetic....

1. The illness I live with is: Type 1 diabetes

2. I was diagnosed with it in the year: 25th August 09

3. But I had symptoms since: I dread to think! Maybe a year or so on and off?

4. The biggest adjustment I’ve had to make is: injecting myself 4 or more times a day, what I'm eating is kinda ongoing :P

5. Most people assume: I can't eat any sugar or drink alcohol

6. The hardest part about mornings are: waking up with high blood sugar most mornings..

7. My favorite medical TV show is: holby city

8. A gadget I couldn’t live without is: my freelite meter

9. The hardest part about nights are: not snacking before bed, if I have high BG readings

10. Each day I take __ pills & vitamins. (No comments, please) None

11. Regarding alternative treatments I: I don't agree with them but it's up to the individual

12. If I had to choose between an invisible illness or visible I would choose: invisible but i'd rather choose neither!

13. Regarding working and career: only really affects my work if i'm doing a lot of lifting and running about

14. People would be surprised to know: I hate my diabetes, sure I'll manage it and look after myself but I'll always despise it for changing everything

15. The hardest thing to accept about my new reality has been: It's 24/7 for the rest of my life, I'm never to to get a break from it and I doubt they'll find a cure in my lifetime =/

16. Something I never thought I could do with my illness that I did was: injecting myself

17. The commercials about my illness: I've never actually seen any!

18. Something I really miss doing since I was diagnosed is: lie-ins, eating what I liked, coming & going as a pleased without constantly worrying

19. It was really hard to have to give up: galaxy chocolate =/

20. A new hobby I have taken up since my diagnosis is: blogging and being a forum member :D

21. If I could have one day of feeling normal again I would: sleep in, eat rubbish and have a few drinks!

22. My illness has taught me: to appreciate what you have because not eveyone's as lucky

23. Want to know a secret? One thing people say that gets under my skin is: "are you allowed to eat that?" Yes I can adjust my insulin!! or "oo I don't think I could inject myself like that" Well you'd have to or you'd end up in hospital

24. But I love it when people: take a genuine interest and don't completely ignore it

25. My favorite motto, scripture, quote that gets me through tough times is: "and breathe" XP

26. When someone is diagnosed I’d like to tell them: it'll be hard but you're not on your own, make sure you have family & friends around you for support

27. Something that has surprised me about living with an illness is: I'm stronger than I thought I was

28. The nicest thing someone did for me when I wasn’t feeling well was: came to see me everyday to make sure I was okay, gave me lots of hugs and watched dvds :)

29. I’m involved with Invisible Illness Week because: its my first one as a diabetic and I'd like to raise awareness :D

30. The fact that you read this list makes me feel: good :) i might have raised a bit more awareness

What goes up...

Very strange couple of days blood sugar wise :(
High all weekend, midnight hypo last night, cold symptoms this morning, hyper this morning and now back to normal.

Confused.com :P

Didn't think I'd manage a full day at work I felt that bad. Dizzy, faint and legs twitching but this afternoon I was back to normal. 6.8 before lunch and 5.8 before tea.

The Diabetes fairy certainly isn't liking me right now :P

On the plus side I had a really good appraisal last week at work :D
True Blood is back on C4 on Thursday :D:D
New hair do :D
Feeling gooooooooooooood :)

xx

Grrrrr!

Woke up with a 14.7 :(

Am I ever going to get the hang of this??????

Found a handy website thought today through the support forum, BDEC Diabetes Learning Programme, hopefully this will finally get me started on proper carb counting. I was originally supposed to go to an adjusting course but hadn't passed my driving test yet & couldn't really get to it without getting lost :( Nevermind hopefully this site and new my books will help me out.

Going out for Sunday lunch with the fam, so hopefully my sugars lower before then otherwise I won't be having a pud *sulk*

Anyway wish me luck and I shall report back later


xxx

p.s
Diabetic Dog Game

Meters

Currently looking at getting a new testing meter - maybe an early Xmas present for myself? XD

Bayer Diabetes Care is looking like a popular choice, if anyone reading has one please let me know how you're getting on with it! :) So far on Diabetes Support Forum it seems quite positive so I'm wondering if I should buy one before my next hospital check up in December...?

Haha just googled it and Nick Jonas is all over it, surely other celebrities have T1 or T2???

There's also a lot about insulin pumps on the forum and how great they are. My DSN hasn't mentioned them at all but possibly if my HbA1c increases again (went from roughly 9 to 7 back up to 8, although I had been off for 2 weeks with no exercise..). The thought of it being with you 24/7 is a bit scary but all the comments I've seen are really positive, despite the initial knocks and bumps.

Still trying to get into carb counting, which wasn't successful earlier in the week =/
Found another recommended book which should be arriving soon Carbs & Cals - Carbohydrate Counting for people with Diabetes. Looks like it might be more useful than the Collins Carb counter book I got last week so we shall see.

My Sookie Stackhouse book 11 will also be arriving very soon (not that I'm developing an Amazon book habit...) so I need to finish book 7 asap!!!

xx

Exercise

Feeling much better after Monday's mess up and my blood sugar reading are improving! :D

Still getting high readings in the morning (13.2 yesterday and 12.1 today), wondering if it could be the Dawn Phenomenon although I'm not eating anything after my evening meal... ??
Wondering if a bit more exercise before bed might help rather than adjusting my Lantus. Might see how it goes at the weekend.

On a happier note my books arrived yesterday!
Type 1 Diabetes in Children, Adolescents and Young Adults
Collins Car Counter
That's my reading sorted for this weekend :)

Also not so panicky about Florida next year, gots lots of tips and advice from the Diabetes Support forum about what to take, how often to test, time change etc. A lot to think about and lots more questions to ask my DSN! 

Whoever said Diabetes is a doddle should dream on!!

x

Frustrated!!!

Not having a good day with my blood sugars!!

Just before my Lantus I realised I'd missed my 3rd NovoRapid injection so my result was 20.9. Not good. Got it down to 12.6 this morning and 11.7 for lunch but now it's back up to 16.9!!!

Uggh. Correcting it now before tea so fingers crossed it should be back to normal within a couple of hours.

Not going to let it ruin my evening..

Off to watch the speedway soon!

x

First Blog!

Welcome to my first blog entry :D

I got diagnosed as a Type One last August shortly after I came home from Florida. My parents had noticed an increase in the amount I was drinking, how tired I was all the time and that I'd lost around 2 stone since the beginning of June. I went to the doctors and they basically told me to go to hospital straight away. Scary, and all I was worried about was if I could wear my own pjs!

My blood sugar was about 23 and I had a very high amount of keytones in my system (++++). They got it down to around 3 in the early hours of the morning and then explained it all to me. (Not good when you've had under 3 hours sleep and your parents aren't there!!). I was testing/injecting myself the following day and allowed to go home.

I felt so much better after starting the NovoRapid/Lantus, it was strange to think how long I'd been suffering for. My hair also starting falling out, possibly due to starting the insulin and the shock of it all. However after a couple of months it was pretty much back to normal which was a big relief!

It only really sank in a few weeks later that my life was going to be very different from now on. I kept thinking, why me? My grandma had it before she died but no-one else, just me. I have days where I hate it for spoiling things, but I have good days too e.g. injecting myself in public for the first time or in front of my friends/relatives. It still scares me sometimes, especially reading things on the internet about life expectancy for Type One sufferers!

You've just got to take each day as it comes I guess!

x