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 :)

DSMA Feb Blog Carnival - Far From A Winter Wonderland

Diabetes is a royal pain in the arse.

Fact.

It can be at it's worst in Winter, when for some people D teams up with Depression. Unfortunately the two are commonly linked, and little things adding up can soon snowball into a full burnout. Little things like:

Christmas
Presents
Cooking
Thanksgiving
New Year
Snow / Ice
Relatives coming over
Party planning
Last years resolutions
Low blood sugars from cold weather
Decorations
High blood sugars from overeating and/or stress
Unexplained highs/lows
Over excited children
And many many more!

If I ever feel like I'm getting a bit down and want to try and stop it before it takes hold, I go to my family/friends and loved ones. They will always distract me and make me smile :)

Do something creative!
Create some D-art for this years Diabetes Art day, or make a few postcards for the D-Postcard Exchange. You could even create yourself a Diabotic! I started knitting before Xmas (yes I'm god awful slow at it - but apparently quite neat) and find it's a brilliant distraction when I need it.

Don't bottle things up!
Have a good old vent to your family/friends or the DOC! They will always be there to offer support and advice at any time day or night. Bottling things up in my experience never helps, it's always an 'Ahhhh' moment when you let it go :)

Meet other PWD
D-meets are amazing and never fail to cheer you up! The people are incredible, have an amazing sense of humour about their D, and know exactly what you're going through and how you're feeling. There's nothing like seeing a group of PWD testing before lunch, it's brill!

This post is my February 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/february-dsma-blog-carnival/

On It Like A Car Bonnet!

After yesterday's slightly serious post, I thought I'd give a proper (and more positive) update on me and my beloved *cough* D!

Since leaving my previous job in December and starting my new job - also in December - my levels have improved dramatically. I'm no longer hitting the mid-teens or twenties on a regular basis. I'm back to being in range for most of the day, and it feels pretty amazing!

I'm feeling so much more confident about how I manage my D again, and am almost back to where I was after my PDAC course last year. Yes I don't carb count precisely and sometimes I guesstimate a little bit. Occasionally it'll pay off and others it won't, but with D it is about the long game. It isn't a sprint. So if I can keep going with the odd early-teen result then that's fine by me :)

I have some fantastic people in my life now, who I can rely on, trust with everything and love very much. D is also about a support network and I definately have that now. One person in particular wiggles to mind! And I'm incredibly lucky.

January has been such an awesome month so bring on the rest of 2012! :)

Fear Factor

I've posted before about meter inaccuracy and how annoying it is to never be 100% sure what your blood glucose is, There's about a 25% difference either side of your result (or something like that) which can make a lot of difference to my injections. Especially as I don't own a half-unit pen.
Last night I tested before bed as usual, the result came up as 0.6mmol, seek medical attention immediately.
I think my heart stopped then and there.

So many thoughts flooded my brain within a nano second..

Why don't I feel any different?
How could I have mis-calculated so badly?
What if I fall unconcious and my parents don't realise?
What if I have a fit?
Should I test again or treat straight away?
Does hypo unawareness suddenly come on even if you haven't had it before?
What if I don't wake up?

And, I've failed.

After coming to my senses I tested again, to a result of 5.7mmol. I almost cried with relief.

I can't explain how or why I got that result, but it scared me a hell of a lot and those thoughts above have been flickering around my head for most of today.

It's made me very grateful that I have hypo awareness 9 times out of 10 and just shows how much we need better meter accuracy. Those few minutes of panic and sheer relief were awful, nevermind having to experience that every time a hypo comes along.

We need better meter accuracy, and we need it now :(

DSMA January Blog Carnival - Looking Forward...

For some people January is a pretty bland month. Lots of bills after Christmas, back to work after a blissful week of lie-ins rubbish weather and broken new years resolutions. I used to be one of those people who couldn't wait till Spring/Summer came around.
This year January has been very different, I've enjoyed it quite a lot and after a tough few months with one thing and the other, it's been a welcome relief and full of laughter!

So what am I looking forward to in 2012 D-wise...?

Lots of things!

Regaining control of my D (and maintaining it)
Since the end of November I've got my butt into gear and took more notice of my D. Not letting it wash over me without really caring, because I had and still have someone who I wanted to be healthy for. My 30-day average has improved, it's not back to where I want yet, but I'm heading in the right direction. A different environment at my new job has also helped and has considerably reduced my stress and BG readings!

Maintaining my lower HbA1c
Since diagnosis my HbA1c results have fallen very gradually and my last result was 7.5% which I was over the moon with! My GP (who also has D) said he'd like me around the 7.1% mark so that made the result even better. My next one is in April so I'm determined to keep in the 7's and get towards 7.1%
*crosses fingers tightly*

Raising money for Diabetes UK
I've been reading about people doing various things to raise money and this year I'm taking part :) Yet to decide where and how far (not a particularly sporty person...) but I'm going to be signing up with Aimsy for an event in the Summer, so watch this space!

Further advances in D treatments/technology
New treatments and technology are being talked about and introduced more and more which will hopefully benefit hundreds of thousands of people in the future. Any steps towards finding a cure, whether baby steps or mahoosive ones, it all counts :)

D-Milestones
This year is the third in my journey with D, and I'm hoping it's going to be an awesome one! I have my blogaversary too which always makes me smile, as truthfully I didn't think it was for me when I started out!

D-Meets!
Gotta love the D-meets! Always brilliant putting names to faces and catching up, testing at the same time and talking about D without worrying you're boring someone to death!

This post is my January 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/january-dsma-blog-carnival/

Howdy 2012!

Apologies for the lack of posting over the Christmas/New Year period. With family related things and the re-appearance of the dreaded lurgy, it's been either hectic or I've been too pooped to even turn my laptop on =/
1. What did you do in 2011 that you'd never done before? Travelled with Diabetes, went to an MCR concert
2. Did you keep your New Year's Resolutions from last year and will you make any for 2011? Didn't make any. But this year's is to get back on it with my D and to have fun
3. Did anyone close to you give birth? Nope
4. Did anyone close to you die? Yes
5. What countries did you visit? USA
6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011? Courage
7. What date from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory...and why? November 27th and that's for me to know. Nosey!
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Landing myself a new job the day I got made redundant
9. What was your biggest failure? Losing focus with my Diabetes
10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Just the usual lurgy!
11. What was the best thing you bought? Presents for loved ones
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration? Amy's :)
13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed? No-ones
14. Where did most of your money go? Florida holiday
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Lots of things! :D
16. What song will always remind you of 2011? Planetary Go and Lego House
17. Compared to last year, are you...
...happier/sadder? Happier
...thinner/fatter? Same
...richer/poorer? Same
18. What do you wish you'd done more of? Laughing and looking after myself
19. What do you wish you'd done less of? Worrying
20. How will you be spending New Year's Eve? I spent it with someone special
21. Did you fall in love in 2011? Yes <3
22. How many one-night stands? Zero!
23. What was your favourite TV program? Sons of Anarchy/True Blood
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year? No
25. What was the best book you read in 2011? Sookie Stackhouse :)
26. What was your greatest musical discovery? Didn't make one??
27. What did you want AND get? A puppy!
28. What did you want and NOT get? A pancreas..

29. What was your favourite film of the year? Kings Speech or Thor

30. What did you do on your birthday and how old were you? I had a meal out with friends, followed by drinks and a movie weekend. I turned 22 :)

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

32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011? Just me being me?

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

34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Alexander Skaarsgard

35. What political issues stirred you the most? London riots

36. Whom did you miss? My grandma

37. Who was the best new person you met? New work colleagues :)

38. Tell us a valuable life lesson that you learned in 2011: Patience is a virtue

39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year: "You are perfect to me"

xxx

DSMA December Blog Carnival - Pancreas In My Stocking Please Santa!

For this months DSMA blog carnival, we can choose to answer a question of our choice. Being that it's December and Christmas Day is fast approaching, I decided to go for this one:

Do you have words of encouragement for people living with diabetes that may experience depression during the holidays? websites?

The holidays are incredibly full on and overwhelming with the build up to the big day, without the added pressure of Diabetes. Everyone is rushing around wrapping gifts, sorting out and naming the turkey, and getting everything prepared for the perfect Christmas.

If you're struggling with erractic sugars or just received a bad HbA1c result, you probably don't want to bother your family with it. Fearing that it will add to their stress, you bottle the anger, upset and frustration and keep that Macleans smile on your face. You'll probably spend more time alone away from the festivities, feeling isolated and just wanting someone to understand what you're going through.

Everyone with Diabetes has that feeling at one point or another during their journey with D. The important thing to remember is that you are most certainly not alone.

Should you be feeling this way and don't have anyone to talk to, talk to us. On Twitter, Facebook, a forum or on your blog if you have one. We will reply and be there for you, anytime, anywhere (not just the holidays!). People are online throughout the day in different timezones. The DOC is amazing and supportive, plus they have a great sense of humour!

You can also have a look at other people's amazing stories/experiences at http://youcandothisproject.com/

So enjoy the time with your friends and family, don't deny yourself the odd treats at Christmas. Keep testing and cut yourself some slack :)

A problem shared is a problem halved << Cheesy but very true!

Merry Christmas <3










                           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/2011/december-dsma-blog-carnival/