Food Porn

Okay I just plain like that title. No I'm not going to make a bunch of jello and spread it all over me...
This is just a bunch of rambling about what works and what didn't. Pasta... Fresh vs Dry, dry makes my numbers go higher at the 2 hour mark. Fresh I can caculate pretty well and it doesn't drive me quite as high. Wraps... the non fat ones just plain suc. They drive my numbers out the window. Owch ! And don't even think of Chinese food. That stuff is a killer for me. Add white rice and I just pull out the K stick now ! I can eat fried rice and some of the soup but there are things that are big no no's.
 Pancakes are great, sourdough is about 10 carbs per 4" pancake. Regular batter ones I haven't tried yet but I will.
My smoothie has been good for me. It is just about a wash.  Haven't tried anything I really shouldn't yet.  I figure I had better get my Basal and Bolus rates down pat first.  We have adjusted my I:C ratio down to 1:11 and I think it may change again soon.  Anyhow... so much for porn now.  Will have to get motivated to do it again.  And I even kept my shirt on. !

I measure by change

Site changes that is...  Since I started pumping insulin last Monday, I've done 4 changes.  Yes one extra, I found out that taking a HOT shower and putting on a fresh site right after may not have been a good idea.  The sticky didn't.  So far everything has gone well.  I've had some rather bad sleep last few nights, the pump has alarmed me telling me it has lost prime. The first time I was due to change out the set so I did it early in the morning.  (that was the one that failed !)  Part of the problem was the shower but another part may have also been me being half asleep.  The rest of the interrupted nights I woke up and re-primed the pump and went back to sleep.  I think I am going to have to call Animus to find out what is going on.  The other thing I ran into was my meter developed a line across the screen.  Called Animus and I had a replacement overnight. Incredible customer service.  Have found out that that it being tucked INSIDE my pants (when dressed up and at the symphony) just doesn't work.  Uncomfortable and awkward and just where I want it.  Maybe just give up and put it in my pocket.  - More later ! -

First set change out

Okay so I changed out the infusion set today. This was my first change out on my own without anybody watching. And it went almost perfect. The only "flaw" was I didn't draw enough insulin into the cartridge. Since it is saline and I'm changing out again on Monday morning I'm not worried about it. No kinks bends or breaks in the cannula and no blood gusher so I'm happy. Life is good. The old site even looked okay and it didn't hurt to either pull out the old site (kinda like pulling off a bandage) or putting in the new site. I did get to look at the needle ... WOW ! but I don't feel it.
And on to better living through pumping !

Gotta pee !

Okay that may not have been the best title but it sums up my night last night. Woke up in the middle of the night and had to go ... Got out of bed and ... wait my pump isn't in my pocket ! Okay it was wrapped up in the blanket.. Humm I guess I'll get use to this. I do roll over on it about 5 or 6 times at night, and no problems. I woke up in the morning and panicked because I didn't feel it in my pocket but it had fallen out and again was wrapped up in the blanket. What is it with a blanket... does it need it's own ?

Day one !

Today was day one on the pump.  Well actually day 1/2 because we didn't really start until after 2:00.  Tom, the Animus rep, was real nice and went through a bunch and helped me set up my settings.  Jennifer was in the corner working on a Dummy pump just keeping up with me.  Bunch of laughs and jokes but ral time business too.  Tom's question at the end was how the set felt.  Hey I'd forgotten it was even there.  I came home and changed cloths and promptly dropped the pump.  I can't have an infusion site on my belly and change cloths if the pump is still stuck on my belt.  Gotta work on that !  Tonight will be interesting.  It will be the first sleeping with this.  Hummm we'll see.
Of course all this today was just a saline start.  Monday is the Live Start !   I can't wait until then.  One meter and the remote and no more shots !!

I got a box

I had a special box delivered yesterday... My Pump..... It's blue !!! Now the real hard part comes.... waiting until I go to pump school... agrrrrr anyhow this is a GIANT step forward.

My pump gets here on Monday

After much work my pump (a blue Ping) arrives on Monday. I will have some time to play with it and push buttons because I won't start pump school for a while. Like over a week ! All because my rep is on vacation. Oh well I've waited this long. This will give me the time to get the software, read the manual, and play with the pump. Wheeeeeeeeee

Color everywhere

So I'm doing better. Most of the time my BG stays under 150 (target) and I'm fine with that. I've sent my last 2 weeks to Dr. X and we will see what she says. I actually had to do my first correction bolis last night. I told you that was the burrito from hell BG's were up over 200 so added the extra Novolog to my Lantus (no in seperate shots) and went to bed. Woke up and #'s were higher than "normal" but still in range. Hey I corrected and it worked !!!
My favorite pair of CDE's called and asked what pump I've decided to go with. I have chosen the Ping. I like the water proof feature and the remote feature. The MM has a bunch of other bells and whistles but these work best for me (pool !) Also asked what color I wanted.... pink is on back order (not that I wanted pink) so blue it is !
Moving on... weekend coming up !

Strange Call

So I get a strange call from Jennifer my CDE.  How did Monday go.  I guess she hadn't read all the notes that Dr. X put in my record.  So I brought her up to date.  This she said was a follow up call.  I just never get these calls from Kaiser before so it was weird for me.  Okay the next question was what pump was I leaning towards and do I need more information.  No I'm fine with all the stuff the pump companies have been sending me.... (two rainforests worth).  Next was Don do you want to come in and check out the pumps first hand we have here ?  I'll call the manufacture and have their rep come out to show you all the bells and whistles, or Don you can go down to Santa Clara to the conf. they are having there next month.   Okay.. Lets play that one by ear,  these guys would really come all the way here to Vjo.  just to see little ole me and sell me a pump ?  Sure it is a 7k expense and Kaiser does order several all over No. Cal.
So back to the books and do some real research.  She would like to set up an apointment with the pump dudes early next month.

Hummmm maybe a shorter delay than I thought

Yo Yo Ma

Okay yesterday was a small set-back. We move on right ? So buckle in and start counting.
I must be getting use to the carb counting gig somewhat. I look at what I'm eating and right away I start the -- one slice of bread = 26 g 1 slice of cheese = 1 g... and it goes on. It gets even scarier when I am eating out or something that isn't in the CK book (Carb King not Calvin Klein). Then I get to fake it, like last night with dinner. One hamburger bun = 26 g, 1 chicken, cheese burger = 10g, tbls mayo = 1, t tbls catsup = 12g cheese 2 g, 19 chips 15g, total 66 which = x units insulin. Whew. Then I get to eat ! I'm okay with this. I know it will get easier and 2nd nature. I now have even Marnie reading labels and telling me, this will be a low carb meal or a high carb meal will you be okay ? Yep Sure will. When we eat out not only do I count what goes in my mouth but mentally I count people that are with me's meal too. Dr says that is good to practice, I just say it's sick !

Back up a couple steps

Okay met with the Endo today and she said I'm not ready yet for a pump. At least not yet. Booooo. First she wants to change my insulin rate, again, and this time she is changing my night insulin as well as my meal insulin. She wants my ratio of long lasting and meal to be closer to 25 % lantus to 50 % novolog. So now I'm back working without a carb wizard. It's okay kinda because she said I'll fly better when I finally do get my pump. She also wants me to look at Animas Ping. If it is covered it would be great. It uses the same strips that the One Touch uses. We'll see. nd last but not least she also wants me to do a workbook. So now I have homework to do. Okay my Pancreas has stopped producing insulin all together so she has also told me that taking the metformin is a waste of time and $$, I can stop that as of now. In a few days I will send Dr Stevens my log book and we can do another adjustment. Okay so I back up a couple of steps but... there is still light at the end of the tunnel,

Oh Oh...

Okay so had a strange meal for dinner, kilbasa and cajun style rice, (1 1/2 cups) - 65 carbs- my numbers drop from 93 to 77.  What happened.  I only used 4 units of insulin.  So I had a "snack" later... my ice cream bar which is 19 carbs and no insulin.   Took my 25 units of lantus and went to bed.  Woke up this morning and my numbers were back at 100.  Was a bit worried there.  Thought I may have a low during the night.  Not pretty.  My revised smoothie with the yogart and mixed fruit and stuff.  - 71 grams -  Okay now I feel better.  Took a longer way in to work this morning added about 1 mile and a bigger hill to my walk.  Some new scenery too.

Dr. visit

Okay visit with CDE today and got the first lesson in how to make things work.  Adjusted my insulin to now take x units per grams of carbs.  Reduce my night insulin so I get closer to a 50-50 spread.
So tonight was a challange and overdid the dinner insulin.  Rice has less carbs than I figured or I just didn't eat enough.  FEED THE LOW !!!  Snack of 19 grams and bed time.  Night time shot and la la land.
This years Dickens will be fun.  I want to be all evened out before Dickens starts.  So I have to be on pump by mid October.  Dr. appointment Monday will be the last step before pump order.  Fingers crossed !!

Big Burritto

Went shopping at the Benicia Farmers market last night. Fun ! We didn't have anything planned for dinner so we decided to do the bbq chicken booth. I ended up with this burrito that was HUGE. Loads of rice and meat. figure if I had eaten the entire thing it would have been close to 150 carbs. So I ate most of it but felt stuffed. Woke up EARLY this morning. May be a good thing since I have to crash early today to get plenty of rest for the weekend.

Ok so even after a bowl of ice cream my numbers are still low. In their 90's. Still used 30 u Lantuis.

Okay my numbers were low for lunch. I decided to have a big sandwich and hope that will bring them up. A PLS should do the trick

Day 3 and still going

Okay so my numbers are still in control. It is this waiting that I really have problems with. I wish I could see my CDE today and get that part over with.