2012

1. What did you do in 2012 that you'd never done before? Opened up to my family
2. Did you keep your New Year's Resolutions from last year and will you make any for 2013? I said I'd get back on it with my Diabetes, which I didn't at all. If anything it got shoved below other things. That's not happening in 2013. See previous post for my new years resolutions!
3. Did anyone close to you give birth? Nope
4. Did anyone close to you die? No
5. What countries did you visit? None
6. What would you like to have in 2013 that you lacked in 2012? Laughter
7. What date from 2012 will remain etched upon your memory...and why? Probably Christmas Day, because it was a good one :)
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Not losing the plot?
9. What was your biggest failure? Not caring about my D for most of the year
10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Two lots of lurgy :(
11. What was the best thing you bought? Presents for F + F
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration? My parents :)
13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed? No-ones
14. Where did most of your money go? My new room, and lent to someone who doesn't seem to have any intention of paying it back ._.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Going away in 2013!
16. What song will always remind you of 2012? Something New - Girls Aloud
17. Compared to last year, are you...
...happier/sadder? Happier
...thinner/fatter? Probably a little chunkier after Xmas :P
...richer/poorer? Same
18. What do you wish you'd done more of? Spending time with people I'd lost contact with, and my family.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of? Crying
20. How will you be spending New Year's Eve? With my family, apparently we have some Chinese lanterns..
21. Did you fall in love in 2012? No
22. How many one-night stands? Zero!
23. What was your favourite TV program? Sons of Anarchy
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year? I don't hate anyone.
25. What was the best book you read in 2012? Too many to list :P
26. What was your greatest musical discovery? Sia
27. What did you want AND get? No clue :P
28. What did you want and NOT get? A pancreas..

29. What was your favourite film of the year? Dark Knight Rises, Avengers, Lawless 

30. What did you do on your birthday and how old were you? I turned 23 and had a meal with a few people at a Mexican restaurant (SCRUMMY) 

31. What ONE thing would have made your year immensely more satisfying? A pancreas!

32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2012? Same as always, with a little more power dressing for work.. apparently :D

33. What kept you sane? I'm never sane :P

34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Tom Hardy 

35. What political issues stirred you the most? Phone hacking

36. Whom did you miss? My grandma

37. Who was the best new person you met? Probably newbiees at work

38. Tell us a valuable life lesson that you learned in 2012: Go with your gut

39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year: We girls gotta take control

xxx

Hey Where'd Santa Go?

So Christmas is over already, it's raining and back to work next week.

BOO!

Hope you all had a lovely Christmas with friends and family. I had a pretty good one, despite one of my elderly relatives being taken to hospital just before Christmas Eve. Unfortunately none of us felt in the mood for Santa, however it all came together on the day. We all over indulged on food & drink, played some cards (which me & Grandma kicked arse at) and had a great time :)

Over the past couple of years, my BG's have always been reasonably good throughout the holidays, however my luck seemed to have run out on this one! No sky-high results luckily, but just consistent teens.. meaning the 30-day average has shot up yet again. I'm hoping that with more willpower next year, I can keep it lower and more consistent.

I'm not usually a big New Years resolution maker or keeper.. but after this year I'm going to try to change that. A lot of what I'd planned for 2012 got pushed to one side for other reasons, but not anymore!

So here goes:

=> Get back into the DOC, weekly Tweetchats, the forum, meets and more blogging
=> Work on getting my HbA1c down, even if it's just .1% at a time
=> Take part in at least one Diabetes fundraising event
=> Try and teach my family more about D

Hope you all have a great New Years! :)

DSMA December Blog Carnival - Reflection

Can't believe it's December already, doesn't seem long ago since I was writing about my plans for 2012 and what I wanted to accomplish.

It's no secret that I've struggled with my Diabetes this year. I've shied away from the DOC, the forum and I've neglected my blog because... well I just didn't care. I went through the motions of looking after myself and stuck my Diabetes further and further down my list of priorities. Which is never a good thing.

Since getting run down, breaking down and finally talking to people I'm no longer going through the motions of caring about my Diabetes. My last HbA1c went up by 0.3% which was better than I expected.. but in the grand scheme of things, not really where I wanna be. I'm now carb counting better (I don't wanna be perfect at it, just a good guesstimator) which is already giving me better results.

My meter average has gone from around 10.x to 8.8 in the past few weeks, and now I'm more focused I'm hoping to get it down further.

There's only one person responsible for me, and that's ME!
So if I'm in LaLa land then shit's gonna hit the fan :)

2012 for me meant learning a lot of lessons.

So next year Teapot Diabetic is back with a vengance - Diabetes be afraid, be very afraid!

This post is my December entry in the DSMA Blog Carnival. If you’d like to participate too, you can get all of the information at http://diabetessocmed.com/2012/december-dsma-blog-carnival-2/

DSMA November Blog Carnival - Change

This month's blog carnival asks:

What is the one thing (advocacy, grassroots) you will do different this year? How will you accomplish your task?

I'm sad to say that I haven't accomplished many of the tasks I wanted to this year. I wanted to take part in sponsored events to raise awareness and money for Diabetes, but sometimes the best laid plans remain exactly that, plans.

I'm going to stick to my plans, despite being late.. and next year I will take part in any events that I can get to. I've neglected my Diabetes emotionally this year which hasn't been brilliant, so a rocket has been placed under my butt to get me moving!

I'd like to head to more Diabetes meets next year as well, being with fellow PWD always makes me smile and the people I've met through it have been lovely and I'd love to meet a few more. You can't beat a room of people pulling out their meters to test before a meal and finding out who's hypo and who's high.

One task I did accomplish this year was my WDD project, which in turn helped me advocate when people asked why a blue blanket :)

So next year I'm going to try and get back into the DOC properly, blog more and wear my Teapot Diabetic tee as much as possible ^_^

Bye bye 2012

Bring on 2013!

Twas The Night Before World Diabetes Day...

The big blue day is almost here! And there's so much blue to talk about :)

Blue Fridays and World Diabetes Day itself - wear as much blue as possible to spread the word and awareness. Sadly I'm at work so don't think electric blue hair would go down well... but blue nails, accessories and some blue clothes are definately happening

World Diabetes Postcard Exchange - it's almost time to post your cards if you haven't already done so! I got my recipient today so I shall be doing a bit of crafting tonight to post tomorrow. I think I'm going to use my blankie as inspiration for my postcard design :)

World Diabetes Day Twitter Chat - DOC's from across the world are uniting for 16 hours, with 16 hosts and 6 topics throughout the day. Simply join the chat by adding hashtag #WDDChat12 on to your tweets and connect with thousands of other PWD

Spread the word - share as many of your results on Facebook and/or Twitter to raise awareness and to hopefully get people talking about Diabetes. Don't forget to put the blue circle on your profile pics :)

Teapot Diabetic giveaway - I am giving away a very blue blanket to celebrate WDD, simply message me on FB or on Twitter and I'll pick a name from a hat tomorrow!

Happy World Diabets Day everyone, stay blue! xx

DSMA October Blog Carnival - Listen to Teacher

This month's blog carnival is all about what HCP's/diabetes educators can learn from us :)

I think there's a pretty long list, unless you have one with Diabetes (like my GP) or that have had Diabetes in their family. They can be a big part of your journey, so the more they know and understand the more people they can help now and in the future.

A great support network is brilliant to have throughout the many ups and downs, and conflicting advice from a HCP and people with Diabetes can be very confusing, especially when you're a newbie!

So here's my two penneth!

Diabetes isn't all about numbers - Numbers don't always give you the full story as anything and everything can affect results. Meters aren't 100% accurate so you never really have something solid to work on. Emotions also have a massive impact on results, so emotional support is a must, possibly more than anything else.

Connect with other PWD - HCP's suggesting places online to look for help, support and guidance would be brilliant. I spent a year in Diabetes limbo, not really knowing what I was really doing but finding forums and sites like DSMA really do help and should be available on prescription! They can turn your frown upside down and make you feel less alone.

We're not just Diabetic, we are people! - We have lives outside of being Diabetic, it doesn't define it. Its just a little part of the jigsaw that makes us who we are :)

We do talk to each other - We know the levels of care others are getting and what we should be getting. Also we hear about new D-related gadgets etc so we're going to ask about them and if we're eligible to have them. Just because HCP's don't suggest them doesn't mean we don't know about them!

This post is my October entry in the DSMA Blog Carnival. If you’d like to participate too, you can get all of the information at http://diabetessocmed.com/2012/october-dsma-blog-carnival-2/

Shares in Kleenex

If someone where to ask me which of the Seven Dwarves I am today, it'd have to be

SNEEZY!!!!

For the past few days I've had a stinking cold which has meant lots of tissues, lots of coughing, glucoaster BG results and being off work. I hate being ill! A cold for me now doesn't mean a couple of days of sniffles and then I'm bright as a daisy again. It knocks me on my arse for at least a week, I go through two or three packets of cold/flu tablets and my nose ends up looking like a very famous reindeer...

It always happens just before I have my flu jab too! Mysterious coincedence or evil Diabetes Fairy sitting on her black cloud cackling away??

My 30-day average has now gone back to over 9.0mmol and my HbA1c is in December so will end up the same again or higher. I'm starting to dread my appointment already and I haven't even had the date through.

It's days like today where I really really wish I didn't have Diabetes. I hate it.

DSMA September Blog Carnival - D Swag!

This month's Blog Carnival is all about Diabetes gear, what you carry arround with you and where! I have little bits of D-swag dotted around my room, in various drawers and boxes, at work and at Amy's. You can never be too careful!

This is normally the D related contents of my handbag:

GlucoTabs (Raspberry flavour)
Test kit
Pens with spare needles


















As none of it's attached to me... my bag doesn't really vary much. It gets triple checked in the morning, and double checked at the weekend by either my Mum or Amy (as I have been known to forget things...).

Diabetes gear isn't normally... attractive, and if it is usually comes with a hefty price tag so I was given a nice sparkly pencil case to keep my pens (fitted with their Timesulin caps) safe and in one place, along with a handful of spare pen needles and a tissue just in case of bleeders!

This post is my September entry in the DSMA Blog Carnival. If you’d like to participate too, you can get all of the information at http://diabetessocmed.com/2012/september-dsma-blog-carnival-2/

Diabetes Art Day

Happy Diabetes Art Day!

This year I was a little more organised with my art project! I took inspiration a few months ago whilst I had a hypo in my room and snuggled up with the crocheted blanket I was knitting for Amy.

It's not quite finished, but here it is so far....

Diabetes Comfort.

















For more information on Diabetes Art Day please click here. It's a brilliant project expressing your life with Diabetes and another way to connect with other people from the DOC. Next year is going to be a little different with DArtDay moving to February, so plenty of time to get your thinking caps on! :)

I decided to tie in my Diabetes Art Day project with World Diabetes Day my making a DOC blanket and then giving it away via my blog.

If you would like to be in with a chance of winning the DOC blankie made by moi (not super neat and fancy I'm afraid...) then please tweet me using the icon on your left or PM Teapot Diabetic on Facebook. I'll pick a name at random on World Diabetes Day and post permitting, you'll have it before Christmas!

Fancy a Postcard Buddy?

I can't believe it's almost a year ago since I blogged about the last World Diabetes Postcard Exchange :)

If you haven't heard of it then here's a little info taken from the brand new website:

"Welcome to the home of the World Diabetes Day Postcard Exchange, an initiative to connect people affected by diabetes from around the world with each other during the month of November in celebration of World Diabetes Day and Diabetes Awareness Month. Participants in the Postcard Exchange send and receive handmade postcards with assigned Postcard Buddies. They create postcards using the blue circle, the international symbol of diabetes, in their design. The Postcard Exchange was created to promote healing through Creativity, Connection, and Activism"

This year is looking to be even bigger than last year, so head on over to the website for more information and to fill in the new registration form! If you have any questions please contact the lovely creator of WDDPE Lee Ann Thill at leeann@wddpe.com

I got a really lovely postcard from a PWD in New York last year, and can't wait to find out who my postcard buddy will be this year :)

So get signed up and get creative!

Are You Type 1 Aware?

Earlier this year, Diabetes UK and JDRF launched an amazing educational video which asks 'Are you Type 1 Aware'?

It looks at those who develop T1 during their childhood years and aims to raise awareness of the symptoms, which although obvious, can be mis-diagnosed or unwittingly ignored. If parents are aware of the symptoms then children are much more likely to be diagnosed before they reach life threatening DKA therefore reducing their chances of becoming seriously ill.

DUK and JDRF are hoping to get a million hits before World Diabetes Day in November, so please share this video with as many people as you can, both on and offline.

You could save a childs life.

DOC Hits UK!

This coming week marks the third Tweet Meet for the GBDOC! Inspired by the weekly #DSMA and #OzDOC chats, more people with Diabetes can now connect every Wednesday from 9pm - 10pm across the various timezones :)

If you want to find out more and join in please visit click on the links below:

@theGBDOC
http://www.facebook.com/groups/thegbdoc/
http://tweetchat.com/room/gbdoc

I was so excited to find this on Twitter, every Thursday morning I'd scroll down my Twitter feed to see the #DSMA chats that I'd missed, wishing I could have stayed up to take part (unfortunately sleep always wins... :p). That's why I always tried to take part in the Blog Carnivals each month. And now I get to do both! =D

So spread the word - Wednesday nights 9pm - 10pm (GMT) Miss it or MISS OUT!
 

Hypo Awareness Week

Today's the last day of the UK's first ever National Hypo Awareness week, the aim of which is highlight the symptoms and dangers of hypoglycaemia in people who have Diabetes, to all hospital staff in England and Wales.

For more infomation please visit the Diabetes NHS website here.

It would be lovely to see this event getting bigger and bigger with each year, not just making hospital staff aware (which is obviously very important), also the general public. Not an OTT scare the crap out of you campaign as I'm sure the media would LOVE..... Just something to show that first assumptions aren't always correct. Slurring words and lack of concentration also apply to hypo symptoms, not just too much alcohol!

I've had a couple of conversations with new work colleagues about my D and what they would need to do in the event of me being unable to treat myself. At my previous job the First Aider said in this event, he would feed me a Mars bar and give me mouth-to-mouth.... <makes me grimace thinking about it now still!>

I explained that I had GlucoGel in my top drawer and how to apply it, but most of all to call 999. I was also asked what it feels like to be hypo and how to recognise it.

Every hypo is different, it can attack in many ways, slow or fast, all or nothing...


> Lack of concentration
> Shaking/Trembling
> Sweating
> Blurry vision
> Tingling (this happens to my arms in particular but also affects your lips)
> Anxiety/becoming quiet and withdrawn
> Slurring words
> Irrational behaviour
> Racing pulse or palpitations
> Irritability

These are just a few tell-tale signs/symptoms of a hypo. THEY SUCK.

Sometimes they take a few minutes to bounce back from, others can wipe you out for a few hours. I was told by a DSN once that 'hypo's breed hypo's'. I've only experienced continual lows a handful of times, and they really put you through the ringer. Your mind and body feels battered and broken. All you want to do is curl up in a ball and cry.

DSMA August Blog Carnival - You're Fired!!!

Your pancreas is in a job interview and totally bombed the question about ______.

Reading Karen's response to this months DSMA Blog Carnival topic immediately made me think of The Apprentice, sitting in the boardroom answering questions from Lord Sugar (or that bloke with the bad comb-over if you live in the USA...).

If my pancreas were being interviewed, it would DEFINATELY bomb the question about teamwork.

My lovely darling pancreas has a nasty habit of having a D-strop whenever I'm going out somewhere special or am on holiday, abroad or still in the UK. If I'm having a crappy day at work, my pancreas doesn't sit back and leave me in peace. It screams at me with a hypo or a hyper just to make sure I haven't forgotten it's there. Dead as a dodo.

This post is my August entry in the DSMA Blog Carnival. If you’d like to participate too, you can get all of the information at http://diabetessocmed.com/2012/august-dsma-blog-carnival-2/

The Boo-Boo Report

On Saturday night I dialled up my 20u of Lantus (increased due to hotter weather) and started clicking away 1u at a time. I'm a bugger whilst injecting, trying to do other things such as moving to grab stuff, texting, internet shopping - you get the idea :P

Whilst surfing the web I moved my hand and caught my pen. Being such a small needle, you'd think it wouldn't hurt that bad or make a mark.

Holy bleep on a bleep did that hurt!

The worst part is that I was only just under half way through, so gritted my teeth and continued to click away. Before I'd even finished taking my needle out, blood starting oozing out like lava from a volcano. Yuck! The feeling of the needle sharply moving in my stomache made me feel a little.... GAG!

The following day I saw the mark it made, I now have a lovely vivid purple bruise the size of a 50p - or a quarter for Overseas blog readers :) - just to remind me what a dumbass I am for multi-tasking whilst jabbing and to teach me a lesson!

(apologies for the cruddy picture quality!)



What's the worst injury you've had with your D equipment? Self inflicted or other :)

Diabetic Dictionary

Since finding the DOC over a year ago, I've learnt lots of new phrases and words to describe certain Diabetic problems/instances. Unfortunately there isn't a Diabetes manual.... so I thought creating a Diabetic Dictionary would be a close second :)

What words/phrases would you have in your Diabetic Dictionary? Mine to start off is Glucoaster, as I've been riding it for a good couple of weeks now, which sucks big time!!!!

A - A1c
B -
C -
D - Diabetes mellitus
E -
F -
G - Glucoaster
H - Haemoglobin
I - Insulin Dependent Diabetes
J -
K -
L -
M -
N -
O -
P -
Q -
R -
S -
T -
U -
V -
W - WTFructose!
X -
Y -
Z -

DSMA July Blog Carnival - Winging It

The diabetes community has taught me how to _______ and _______.
This for me opened up so many possibilities! I found the DOC around a year after diagnosis. I was doing okay with my levels, but I didn't feel like I owned my Diabetes. I felt like I was almost a slave to it. I didn't have the right people around me at the time, and as most PWD know, a good support network is crucial. I felt incredibly isolated, confused by my feelings towards my diagnosis and if I could ever own my Diabetes.

Reading tales of how people have coped with Diabetes for years, mixed in with hospital visits and changing their regime's gave me hope that I could do the same with mine. I wasn't alone and I was in control of my Diabetes.

So here's my list, thank you DOC for everything.

.. not beat myself up too much and to keep trying.
.. to find humour in D situations and to look after myself better
.. to be more open and honest and to advocate whenever possible :)
.. to deal with the food police and to tell them where to shove it
.. that with Diabetes it isn't a race and you have to go at a steady pace
.. that I can do things and I shouldn't be afraid to do so
.. that I am not alone and there are millions of others in the same boat as me
.. that Diabetes can be a bitch and there is ALWAYS more to learn!

"This post is my July entry in the DSMA Blog Carnival. If you’d like to participate too, you can get all of the information at http://diabetessocmed.com/2012/july-dsma-blog-carnival-2/"

A Rough Week...

This week Friday the 13th came early for me, and lasted a good few days!

On Thursday I took a tumble at work (don't you dare laugh!) and I tripped over some wires landing on my knees, jarring my back and hip, and also pulling both arms trying to stop myself falling... *dies a little of embarassment* so I've been walking round like I've ridden on a horse too long!

The following day I started eating my lunch, went into my bag to grab my pens and shock horror it wasn't there! Head immediately went into hands and panic set in, luckily my mum hadn't set off for work so brought it in.

The fun didn't end there though!

Looking at my Timesulin cap, it showed that my last injection was over 17 hours ago... SHIT!

Not only had I forgotten my insulin pens, but I'd forgotten to do my breakfast injection as well. If I'd have been on my own in the office, I think I would have bawled my eyes out then and there. But I held it together, did my injection with (massive) correction and got back to work. Got home and my levels were back to normal, thank god.

My parents were quite worried and concerned that I'd forgotten my injection... I said I've had this condition for about 3 years and I've only done it about twice so I'm pretty chuffed! I've never used the wrong insulin and never lost a pen/left it somewhere. Sometimes life takes over and you do forget stuff. We're human and everyone makes mistakes. Don't make me feel bad when it's my D, I know the consequences and I'm the one who deals with them.

I've had a shit week and ache like hell, so cut me some slack!

/rant over

DSMA June Blog Carnival - The Dr Will See You Now....

This month's DSMA Blog carnival asks:
Do you get nervous or stressed when you have to go to your endo/doc appointment?
Why or why not? Be honest.

I had my latest appointment earlier this month for my HbA1c and it had gone up from 7.4% to 8.1% :(

I do get nervous and stressed about my appointments, because I always expect the worst, and I'm usually correct. My HbA1c has either stayed the same or drops then goes back up. I feel like I've tried so hard in the last couple of years and nothing seems to have really changed. I'm getting despondant and not snapping out of it. My levels have improved a lot in the past couple of months, but I'm not excited when my lower levels appear, or when I get a no-hitter.

I want to be where I was when I got excited.

I'm always honest with my Consultant, and he's always helpful with suggestions about how I can improve my regime. The only downside is that my appointments only seem to last 10-15 minutes, I spend more time in the waiting room that I do in the chair.. Is this the norm for PWD or am I being greedy in not wanting to feel like I'm on a patient conveyerbelt?

To make patients feel more at ease during their appointments, it would be nice to feel like you're really being listened to. Not like you're on a clock. Don't just offer suggestions then say "See you in 6 months". When I'm feeling like a complete failure for letting my HbA1c go back up, it'd be nice to be reassured =/

This post is my June entry in the DSMA Blog Carnival. If you’d like to participate too, you can get all of the information at http://diabetessocmed.com/2012/june-dsma-blog-carnival-2/

DBlog Week Day 7 - Diabetes Hero

Let’s end our week on a high note and blog about our “Diabetes Hero”. It can be anyone you’d like to recognize or admire, someone you know personally or not, someone with diabetes or maybe a Type 3. It might be a fabulous endo or CDE. It could be a d-celebrity or role-model. It could be another DOC member. It’s up to you – who is your Diabetes Hero??
My hero's are everyone whose lives are touched by Diabetes. Whether you have it yourself or its a member of your family, or a loved one.

Parents of children with Diabetes - I was diagnosed just under 3 years ago, however this still had a big impact on my family. With Diabetes on my Mums side of the family, it left her feeling responsible for me ending up in hospital overnight and having this for the rest of my life.

I struggle a lot of the time to manage my own pancreas, nevermind another person and a little growing person at that! There must be a great deal of anxiety and pressure with ever changing goal posts, due to hormones affecting BG readings. However I can also imagine the great feeling when your child starts learning about Diabetes and testing themselves etc, because you taught them how to do it :) They are all heroes.

T3 Friends and family - They provide us PWD with a vital support network and help us whenever we need it. Whether it's listening to us talk about a rubbish day with D, coming with us to HbA1c appointments or carrying around jelly babies in case of hypo's, they are amazing and are all heroes.

Everyone with Diabetes - Living with this condition is crappy, as I've said in previous posts it can be like looking after a baby and like a full-time job. It's hard, and you have to keep your sense of humour as much as possible, because Diabetes and sods law go hand in hand! They are all heroes.

D is like a marathon, but you can do this :)

DBlog Week Day 6 - Say Cheese!

Back for the third year, let’s show everyone what life with diabetes looks like! With a nod to the Diabetes 365 project, let’s grab our cameras again and share some more d-related pictures. Post as many or as few as you’d like. Feel free to blog your thoughts on or explanations of your pictures, or leave out the written words and let the pictures speak for themselves.

DBlog Week Day 5 - What They Should Know

Today let’s borrow a topic from a #dsma chat held last September. The tweet asked “What is one thing you would tell someone that doesn’t have diabetes about living with diabetes?”. Let’s do a little advocating and post what we wish people knew about diabetes. Have more than one thing you wish people knew? Go ahead and tell us everything.
It's incredibly hard to just pick one thing, as sadly there's so much people don't know or realise about Diabetes.

Diabetes is hard. Fcking hard work. Almost like another full time job, except it's not 37 hours a week. Its all day, every day.

When you're sat there waiting to tuck into your dinner, I'm looking at it trying to work out how many carbs it's got in it.
There aren't just two types of Diabetes!
When I'm feeling hot or cold I'm wondering if I'm going hypo or hyper whereas you'd just grab a jumper or put the fire on.
When you ask why I look tired, it's probably because I was awake at 2am having a hypo.
Yes I can eat what I like within reason!!
Without insulin, I wouldn't be here.
Lots of things can affect BG readings before you've even eaten anything.

I could go on for ages and ages, but basically....

DIABETES IS A PAIN IN THE ARSE!!!!

Dblog Week Day 4 - Fantasy Diabetes Device

Today let’s tackle an idea inspired by Bennet of Your Diabetes May Vary. Tell us what your Fantasy Diabetes Device would be? Think of your dream blood glucose checker, delivery system for insulin or other meds, magic carb counter, etc. etc. etc. The sky is the limit – what would you love to see?
Instead of a Diabetes Fairy that is mean and creates highs & lows for no apparent reason, I'd like one that would help me! One that would just give me a little nudge if I'm heading out of my ideal range, or drop a jelly bean in my pocket when needed xD

Okay, I can dream!

My fantasy device has got to be a glucose monitor that's as accurate as humanly possible. None of this 25% each way. That's not good enough and never will be. We need to know exactly where we are with our BG, to give us a fighting chance to stay healthy and keep our HbA1c at a good percentage. I'd love to spend less time worrying about if I've injected too much or too little because I don't ACTUALLY know where my BG is!

Or we could have a D-Robot (instead of I-Robot) who could be with you all the time, carrying your D supplies, remembering when your last injection was and how much. Stopping you from over-treating or over indulging! Helping you exercise and answering questions like a Diabetic Google. Keeping a log of your readings, providing your own HbA1c results and even charging your meter up whilst on the move!

I'd imagine he/she to look like this....

DBlog Week Day 3 - One Thing to Improve

Yesterday we gave ourselves and our loved ones a big pat on the back for one thing we are great at. Today let’s look at the flip-side. We probably all have one thing we could try to do better. Why not make today the day we start working on it. No judgments, no scolding, just sharing one small thing we can improve so the DOC can cheer us on!
This one's a toughie, I don't think there's just one single thing we can improve on. D is a marathon, you're always learning and changing so there will always be things to work and improve on.

At the moment I'm struggling with motivation to record my results like I used to. I usually find I stop recording when I'm having bad days. This time it's been on and off since January, I'm trying to start filling in my readings after each test now. I also managed to drop my Lantus usage from 24 to 20, and that's still working out for me in the mornings. I've had my appointment through for my next HbA1c so I'm hoping that gives me the kick up the backside I need right now.

Just want to be back to how I used to be with my D. Kicking it's butt and gradually improving my averages/HbA1c =/

DBlog Week Day 2 - One Great Thing

Living with diabetes (or caring for someone who lives with it) sure does take a lot of work, and it’s easy to be hard on ourselves if we aren’t “perfect”. But today it’s time to give ourselves some much deserved credit. Tell us about just one diabetes thing you (or your loved one) does spectacularly! Fasting blood sugar checks, oral meds sorted and ready, something always on hand to treat a low, or anything that you do for diabetes. Nothing is too big or too small to celebrate doing well!

This was the one topic I thought I may swap for a Wild Card... I've kinda hopped off the D-wagon over the past couple of months. I'm still testing and injecting, I just don't have a lot of oomph for it. I've been neglecting my blog as I didn't really know what to say :(

I started thinking about my loved ones and how great & supportive they are, but it's supposed to be about me... aahhh! I then looked at the almost empty bottle of lucozade at the side of my bed, and realised I'd stuck to changing my hypo treatments for the better.

When I got low and the food monster took over, I'd scoff a lot of biscuits/chocolate until I felt normal, which usually meant bouncing back the other way and feeling even worse later on. So after a little blog venting and some really nice comments, I decided to remove temptation from my room completely, and only have lucozade/gluotabs around me.

I also keep one or the other in my handbag (most of the time!) so I don't have to have something slow acting instead.

Must. Resist. Temptation! :D

DBlog Week Day 1 - Find a Friend

It's day 1 of DBlog week! Today's topic is 'Find a Friend' where we can share the blogs we love and introduce ones that you may not have read before. Like many others, I could pick just one :)

I first 'met' Mike on the Diabetes Support Forum, and his was one of the first Diabetes blogs I read around a year after I got diagnosed. I love how articulate Mike is and how he can always write how you're feeling, exactly how you'd like it to be said. He's always incredibly supportive of everyone in the DOC offering advice and support, and has often made my day when I'm feeling blue with just a couple of sentences in a comment box! So go add his blog to your favourites, I guarantee you won't regret it :)

Kate and Emma are joint bloggers at Sugar Rollercoaster (which I discovered a few days ago and wish I had much sooner!). Along with Type 1 Diabetes they also deal with major depressive disorder & hypothyroidism, and anxiety. They both write amazingly honest and inspiring blogs and I can't wait to read many more of them. So go get your virtual butt over there now! :D
These are only a couple of my favourite blogs, there's more on my blogroll and hopefully after today's topic, lots more too!

Third Annual Diabetes Blog Week!

Make your way over to Bitter~Sweet Diabetes to find out about the Third Annual Diabetes Blog Week. It starts on Monday, plus it's really easy to sign up! Karen has also included a list of topics for the week and who has already signed up to take part. You can also read everyone's posts throughout the week and meet lots of new members of the DOC!

If you don't already have a blog, now is the perfect time to start :) You can use Blogger or Word Press to get you started or blogging facilities on some of the larger D-forums.

Thank you so much again for organising this Karen, am very excited and hoping it clears the D-Writers Block :)

Writers Block

Unfortunately I've been suffering from D-blog writers block for the last few weeks, hence the lack of posts :( Not really feeling the D right now, no oomph. So I've done a little Mememe!

What type of diabetes do you have:
Type 1

When were you diagnosed:
August 25th 2009

What’s your current blood sugar:
What kind of meter do you use?
I use the Contour USB

How many times a day do you check your blood sugar:
Around 4-6 depending on whether I've had a low/high during the day.

What’s a “high” number for you:
For me anything above 11mmol, that's when I start getting headache and feeling yucky/grumpy.

What do you consider “low”:
Anything below 4mmol

What’s your favorite low blood sugar reaction treater:
Lucozade Sport as it's super quick after just a mouthful

Describe your dream endo:
My GP actually has T1 so is always incredibly helpful when I go for my reviews, he 'gets' it! He never goes too much into my readings, just how I'm feeling with my D and how I'm getting on. He always makes me feel better and reassures me that I'm doing okay, and not to be too hard on myself.

What’s your biggest diabetes achievement:
Probably getting my HbA1c under 7% after about a year of being in the early 8's!

What’s your biggest diabetes-related fear:
That it'll take my eyesight in the end.

Who’s on your support team:
My family, my angel Aimsy, my GP and the lovely ladies at the Healthy Living Centre :)

Do you think there will be a cure in your lifetime:
Think I got more chance of eating candyfloss on the moon!

What is a “cure” to you:
Having a working pancreas, and none of the crap that comes with Diabetes.

The most annoying thing people say to you about your diabetes is:
"Should you be eating that?"
"You can't have one of those, it's got sugar in it"
"Do you have the bad kind of Diabetes?"
"You have Diabetes?.... But you're not fat"

What is the most common misconception about diabetes:
That there's only one type, and it's baaaaaaad. Ugh!

If you could say one thing to your pancreas, what would it be:
Please behave!

DSMA April Blog Carnival - Don't Let Me Fall

This months blog carnival topic is all about support..
Describe your ideal diabetes “support group”? What would you discuss?

Unfortunately I don't have any local support groups in my town, I'd love to have the time to start one as being with other PWD is great :)

Testing together, injecting together (or showing off pumps) is awesome!

If I did have a local group I'd love it to have people with various types of D and diagnosed at various ages. On my PDAC course everyone was very different which made it more interesting for me and I learnt a lot in a short space of time. I'd like to feel welcome and comfortable to be myself, whether I'm loving D at that moment or not.

I'd also like it to not revolve around D completely, I like talking about films, hobbies and other stuff apart from D too! Support groups need to be ''real' just because we live with it doesn't mean we wanna talk about it all the time.

With regards to what I'd discuss, I guess it'd be the problems I've had in the past and fears for the future along with successes (and a good old chunter) too :) I like learning and trying out new things with my D to help and also to possibly help others with their D journey.

This post is my April entry in the DSMA Blog Carnival. If you’d like to participate too, you can get all of the information at http://diabetessocmed.com/2012/april-dsma-blog-carnival-2/

Wordless Wednesday - Results

DSMA March Blog Carnival - Out In The Open?

This month's blog carnival asks Does your employer/school/friends know you have diabetes? Why or why not?
I was only diagnosed a couple of years ago so never had to deal with everyone at school wondering what I was doing, or telling me I couldn't eat that. Although I'd have preferred to have had the diagnosis earlier so I could have gotten to grips with D sooner (as much as you can with D!) I'm glad I didn't have the faff of explaining it over and over again.

For me, I find it easier at work to be open about my D. Most people are curious but feel awful asking. I try to encourage questions because I can't stand the wondering looks when I'm finger pricking and feeling the laser beams in the back of my head! I'm quite comfortable testing and injecting at work and in front of people whether I know them or not. The only time when I get a little D-shy is when I have a frock on!

Also if anything were to happen to me, I'd like someone to have a rough idea of what to do/what not to do. I've found that by answering questions it's dispelled a lot of the D myths people hear and read about.

"Ohhhh so you CAN eat sugar?!"
"Umm yeah, have you not seen my face when birthday cake enters the office...??" :P

I can fully understand why many people choose not to disclose their D to friends/colleagues. D isn't just a 3-week thing, you deal with it every second of the day. So having to explain it enough for someone to understand does get a little...eh sometimes. The nearest we'll get to a holiday from D is by just not talking about it for a while.

This post is my March entry in the DSMA Blog Carnival. If you’d like to participate too, you can get all of the information at http://diabetessocmed.com/2012/march-dsma-blog-carnival-2/

Shawty Got Low, Low, Low, Low

After a couple of bad hypo's at the end of last week, I got asked today at work what it feels like to be low.
Hmmm where to start?!

To a member of the public it probably looks as though you're drunk or stoned, which isn't helpful when you're feeling like you're about to keel over!

I normally say that I feel very spaced out, as if I've been set to slow-motion and everything around me is too. My head feels heavy, as if it were full of cement and it's hard to hold your head up when you get really low. You end up sweating as though you'd just sprinted for miles and miles, and you're shaking/twitching too.

Auto-pilot switches on sometimes too and the urge to eat everything you can lay your hands on can be hard to fight. It's not until you start coming back into range that common sense kicks in and you realise what you've eaten! You then have to check to make sure you don't rebound and go hyper instead. All whilst probably having a massive headache from being low (hypo hangover as some call it!).

Being alone whilst hypo is what I find most difficult. No-one to hold on to whilst your shaking and feeling a million miles away in hypo land and no-one to distract you from eating the entire contents of the cupboard. It takes a while for your body to recover and feels so much longer than it actually is, so someone hugging you and telling you it'll be okay is bliss.

Time for some Insulin? Timesulin!

Late last year I read about a new Diabetes product aimed at people on MDI called Timesulin. This has recently gone on sale to the public and thanks to the lovely Susan Moolan, I've been able to try out two caps. One for my NovoRapid and the other for my Lantus Solostar.
Timesulin is a replacement pen-cap, suited to a number of various pens, to record when you last did your injection. After 8 seconds of removing the cap to complete your next injection, the timer resets and will only start again when you clip your pen back on. You can then keep an eye on when you last injected and the 8 seconds also gives you time to check how much insulin is left in your pen.

I've only used these caps for a couple of weeks now but they have already helped immensley and it feels like I've had them for much longer!

They are so simple to use, just swap them for your normal pen cap and the timer begins straight away. You don't have lots of buttons to press or menu's to scroll through, just the hours/minutes/seconds since your last injection.

Diabetes to me is incredibly unpredictable, the slightest thing can send you riding on the glucoaster which can be incredibly exhausting and draining. Family and friends support during these times is brilliant, but they won't always be there to answer the 'Did I already do my jab?' question.

The feeling of not knowing what to do in that situation is horrible. Do you risk not injecting and going hyper? Or do you inject again just to be on the safe side and risk double-dosing which could result in low blood sugars or hospital visit!

The one thing that would make Timesulin even better, for me personally, would be to have a record of the dose as well as the time. That would be sooo helpful especially during those busy running round like a blue-arsed fly days!

If you'd like further information please visit http://timesulin.com/ or contact Susan on Twitter @susanmoolman

Or if you'd like a leaflet for you/a friend/your local DSN just e-mail me your address and I'll post one out to you :)