Diabetic eye exam day

Had my oh so marvelous dilated diabetic eye exam today and got the all clear.  Eyes haven't changed and no leaky blood vessels!! That is always GREAT news! Sitting inside with sunglasses on since my eyes currently look like they are all black and light is not my friend. 🤣 

My little warrior's pump arrived today

My little warrior's Tandem x2 insulin pump arrived today. Today is both a good day and a really heart breaking day wrapped into one.  

My child is excited and I am hoping to be able to keep her upbeat and positive about it.  So far I think I have done a really good job. It would help tremendously if people would stop making the comment about how horrible it truly is.  We know, we all know TRUST ME, but staying positive helps everyone, especially her.     

Positive things people could say would be like oh you have a Dexcom that is awesome or you are getting a pump that is going to make it so much easier and free you from ( she gets 5-10) insulin shots a day!  I don't want this disease to knock her down or take away her very happy and spirited personality. 

So if you know us, try to be positive and upbeat, don't make her feel any worse about it. We are excited for her to have a better tool to control her diabetes and have less low and high blood sugars.  

So here is to kicking Diabetes' ass a little bit more! 

On a side note THANK YOU Kaj our Tandem Rep, Sue our CDE and Dr. Alexandrou for letting me push our treatment plan faster to a pump because the smallest insulin syringe isn't small enough for my small fry and using NPH has been great but that 3 hour peak has been a bit of a wild ride. I would have lost my mind without the team at Iowa City Children's Hospital. You guys ROCK! 

 

Dexcom G6 App Compatibility Issues

If you are like me and bought an Android phone that is not compatible with the G6 app you can get it off Reddit for any phone.  Go to: https://www.reddit.com/r/diabetes/comments/8ja38m/oc_build_your_own_dexcom_app_now_with_g6_support/

You can also download Xdrip+ in place of the G6 app and you can also use Xdrip+ for Follow App if your phone isn't compatible.  I use Follow and Xdrip+ to follow my 5 year old because it gives much better predictions and it alerts me sooner for lows.  Get Xdrip+: https://github.com/NightscoutFoundation/xDrip. To use Xdrip+ for Follow you do not need a nightscout website to use it. You can use Dexcom data source.

#Diabetes #Dexcom #TandemDiabetes #Type1Diabetes #dsma

Living with type 1 and trying to wrangle your child's t1d at the same time.

The weight and stress of having type 1 Diabetes and having your child also have type 1 Diabetes is back breaking. My sweet little kiddo must be making some insulin again, pancreas is trying to sputter, and was low over and over last night and today even with no insulin on board.  Today I finally told the CDE that it's time to try an insulin pump.  Even nph is too powerful and every little thing the kid does causes a low and even when there may only be 0.5u or 1.0u on board....HOURS later.  On a plus side my hair that all fell out from diagnosis is growing back...I look like I am growing out like a half pixie cut all over my head, it's great.  Even the excitement of school is causing lows...how on earth are we suppose to navigate this mess....did I mention yet that I HATE type 1 Diabetes? 🤬  Starting the process to get the tslim x2 like I wear.  The kid needs smaller than .5u doses.

Free at home Covid tests for all but if you have type 1 Diabetes and cannot afford your insulin the government is ok with you dying.

The United States Government will mail anyone who wants an at home covid-19 tests sent to them for people who may or may not get sick for when, not if, they catch covid-19.  Yet the hundreds of thousands of people who live with type 1 Diabetes WILL DIE without insulin and yet thousands of us cannot afford the cost to pay for the life saving insulin we need to SURVIVE?! How about the Government mail insulin to everyone who cannot afford to pay for it?! This is insanity!!! 

Please get your kids blood tested with Trial Net

I so hate this fricking disease. I can't even explain how much I am still pissed off my 5 year old now has type 1. So mad at the world still. I don't know how I'm suppose to get over this anger and sadness.

All of you with type 1, PLEASE get your kids tested with Trial Net. Don't be blind sided like I was and am. They are trialing medication to delay the onset of Type 1. They haven't stopped it but at least they can delay it. At the very least you can keep your babies from getting this shit for a little while longer.  

https://www.trialnet.org/

20 days for Solara to get my 5 year olds Dexcom set up approved

Solara called me on 24th to let me know that they were finally going to ship my 5 year olds Dexcom setup.  20 days of a 5 year old on insulin, though it is life saving it is also deadly.  Since starting insulin, of course, her pancreas is trying to work again and so she has been having a lot of low blood sugar readings.  If I had not already had her on borrowed parts she surely would have passed out or had a seizure by now.  

Have you heard of the Gvoke HypoPen

Have you all heard of the Gvoke HypoPen?  It is quite the amazing device that can replace the older Glucagon Emergency Kits that has a powder and a liquid you have to mix before injecting it into someone.  The Gvoke pen is premixed and easy to use. You pull the red cap off and push the yellow end onto the person's skin.  You can read about it here:

https://www.gvokeglucagon.com

For those who do not know what glucagon is, it is a hormone that makes the liver release stored glucose to raise a person's blood sugar.  It should be used when a person with Diabetes is having a low blood sugar seizure, unconscious or it can be used to help raise blood sugar when you are really sick and unable to eat.  After administration of glucagon a person should be rolled to their side because it can sometimes induce vomiting.  Someone needs to also call 911.  Glucagon Kits of all kinds, however, may not work if a person has had a series of low blood sugars and has depleted the glucagon in their liver.  You should call your Diabetes health care provider to have a plan in place for your diabetes and discuss what to do it glucagon does not work.  Some other options may include putting a glucose tablet in the cheek area or having a tube of frosting available.  

#Diabetes #Dexcom #TandemDiabetes #Type1Diabetes #dsma

I do not like diabetic supply companies

TWO HOURS I have been on the phone fighting with Solara Medical Supplies to get a damn Dexcom set up approved for my 5 year old and over TWO WEEKS fighting for its approval.  This is unacceptable and disgusting to think it is ok for any medical supply company to think it is ok for a 5 YEAR OLD to be on insulin and no cgm.  If it wasn't for me being diabetic and having diabetic friends this little girl would have had a seizure by now for sure. She has ran low for over 2 days now as her pancreas is honeymooning and making insulin!! UNBELIEVABLE the amount of bullshit us with type 1 diabetes have to go through to SURVIVE!! I AM SO ANGRY! #Solara #wecandobetter #WeNeedaCure #DSMA #Dexcom #Diabetes #Type1Diabetes #dsma

A new Keto Friendly Yogurt I discovered

I am always on the lookout for low carb or keto friendly food.  I try to eat mostly low carb because it makes my life with t1d easier and I am trying to find new foods for my 5 year old so she can eat more food with less blood sugar impact.  Amazingly she has always loved yogurt!  So I have been on the search for a low carb yogurt that she will also eat.