Saturday, 21 April 2012

Day 12: Spotty Dotty Diabetic Dais



Stream of consciousness day?  Guess this will be a test of how conscious I've actually been today!  Have felt a bit like a member of the living dead but, nevertheless, here goes...

This morning I looked in the mirror and wondered why I have yet another pimple/spot/thing on my face!  Before Christmas, I'd hardly had a single spot in my life.  Maybe the odd one on my chin or nose when I was ill or feeling a bit run-down, but apart from that I was one of those annoyingly lucky people with pretty good skin.  Now you could probably play dot-to-dot on my face if you wanted to, although I'm not welcoming offers anytime soon just so we're clear (unlike my skin, just to reinforce my point!)   Anyway, I've wasted plenty of money on Clean and Clear and other facial cleansing, spot destroying products that cost more than my weekly food budget and I'm not doing it anymore.  Just going to rename myself: Spotty-Dotty-Diabetic-Dais...I think it's got a ring to it personally.

Went downstairs to grab breakfast with my boyfriend, although it was about 11.30am by this point so I decided I'd skip brekky and have lunch in a couple of hours.  Anthony had a bowl of natural yoghurt mixed with Morrisson's 23p 'Mixed Fruits' jam which we discovered, after reading the ingredients, actually only contains the smallestttt percentages of apple and blackberries and something ridiculous like 86% sugar...so I gave it a miss.  Had a big cup of Earl Grey tea in my mahoosive Cath Kidston mug which made my insides feel very warm and I was sure that, if I'd jumped up and down, you'd be able to hear the liquid sloshing around in my tummy.  Nice.  So I didn't jump up and down.

I was feeling a bit grumpy - I'd woken up with some massively high blood sugar reading like 18.3mmol and had wanted to rage bolus but just about managed to keep a level head and gave myself 6 correction units of my fast acting insulin, thinking that it should bring me down to about 6mmol.  Injected my new best friend Levemir too.  13u - that should do the trick!

Started to notice that I'm beginning to look very much like a pin cushion.  The tops of my thighs and tummy are pretty bruised and 'dotty' (again, kind of like my spotty face!) My fingertips are covered with tiny little pin-prick marks, especially the ring finger on my right hand seeing as it appears to be my favourite to bg test on for whatever reason.  I try and move my injection sites around as much as I can, although I'm yet to brave injecting into the Gluteus Maximus.  

Ant gave me my lunch-time jab in the top of my arm.  I can't do my own injections in my arms because I have a thing about pinching before putting the needle in and I obviously can't do that unless I grow an extra arm, which would not only be a bit creepy but if I'm going to do that I might as well grow a new pancreas too.  Once I'm able to grow extra human organs, I'll save loads of people by making loads of new hearts, pancreases, livers, kidneys etc. (although they'll have to get them out of me quickly once I've started growing them because I'm only small so there's a very high chance that I would explode from an overdose of human organs)  To top it all off, I could go on Britain's Got Talent and perform for the Queen if I won...I suppose I'd have to grow Her Majesty some sort of diamond encrusted body part.  I'm sure she'd like that; gotta' be better than Susan Boyle or Diversity, right?

Tried to give Ant a hand with making the model for his building which was fun but eventually we both became frustrated because the table we were doing it on was too low down so we looked and felt the the Hunchbacks of Notre Dame.  At dinner time we attempted cooking a Panang curry from scratch after ordering a deliciousss one from a Thai takeaway the other day.  We both came to the conclusion that although it was a very tasty curry it was no Panang, so we have agreed to try again another time soon.  In the meantime, the mystery dish we conjured up tonight will be called 'Ant and Daisy's Special Curry'.

Now I'm sat in bed writing this, listening to the soothing sounds of David Gray and hoping that my knees will stop aching soon.  My fundraising job involves a large amount of running/skipping/hopping about (whichever makes you feel most enthusiastic and energetic when you're out and about) and my legs are starting to feel the consequences.  Considering growing some new ones overnight...y'know, as you do.

Day 11: Blame The Diabetes!


Day 11's post was all about a theme tune for Diabetes, so I thought I'd alter the lyrics to The Jackson 5's 'Blame It On The Boogie'.

My baby's always injectin'
And it would be a bad thing
But means I eat all the chocolate
In the house

We spent the night in A+E
Doc found out she had Diabetes
And from that night I started to
Learn some things

Don't blame it on her lady time
Could blame it on sweet Apple Pie
Just don't blame it on her or I
Blame the Diabetes!

Don't blame it on her lady time
Could blame it on sweet Apple Pie
Just don't blame it on her or I
Blame the Diabetes!

That nasty disease, it bugs her
Wish things to go back to how they were
Night-time hypos got her
In a state

She's changed her life completely
Doesn't care much for sweeties
My baby just can't
Make her pancreas work...

Don't blame it on her lady time
Could blame it on sweet Apple Pie
Just don't blame it on her or I
Blame the Diabetes!

Don't blame it on her lady time
Could blame it on sweet Apple Pie
Just don't blame it on her or I
Blame the Diabetes!

She just can't
She just can't
She just can't break down glucose!

She just can't
She just can't
She just can't break down glucose!

Don't blame it on her lady time
Could blame it on sweet Apple Pie
Just don't blame it on her or I
Blame the Diabetes!

Don't blame it on her lady time
Could blame it on sweet Apple Pie
Just don't blame it on her or I
Blame the Diabetes!

This insulin keeps her alive
This insulin helps her survive
Although she doesn't make it
Artificial stuff gets a high five!

Bg's are balanced, she 'aint snappy
And I can see she's happy
When Glucometer shows
A 5.3!

Don't blame it on her lady time
Could blame it on sweet Apple Pie
Just don't blame it on her or I
Blame the Diabetes!

Don't blame it on her lady time
Could blame it on sweet Apple Pie
Just don't blame it on her or I
Blame the Diabetes!

Nottt - lady time!
Maybeee - Apple Pie!
Neverrr - her or I!
Must beee - 'Betes!

Nottt - lady time!
Maybeee - Apple Pie!
Neverrr - her or I!
Must beee - 'Betes!

:)

Day 10: Dear Baby Daisy


Dear Baby Daisy,

Your life's barely even begun.  You have so much ahead of you - so many things that will mould and shape you.

In 3 years time you will be diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.  It won't bother you too much to begin with - mum and dad take care of every aspect of it.  Most of all you'll miss 10p Freddo chocolate bars, but it's okay because a good few years later they won't interest you at all because Cadbury's chocolate gives you tooth ache and they cost a whopping 25p.  That's inflation for you, little one.

Dr. Johnson's going to upset you.  He's a nice bloke but he'll squeeze your little fingers so hard to try and get blood out of them that they'll throb for ages afterwards.  Years later, when he's retired and you can no longer remember what he looks like, you'll picture his face as the Kentucky Fried Chicken man.

When mum and dad split up, remember that it's for the best.  You'll come to realise that, as much as you love them both, you would never want them to get back together.  After being separated for 14 years, you'll have been lucky enough to have spent 4 Christmases together and have been on holiday to Switzerland, just the 3 of you.  You'll be more of a family than you ever might have been had they stayed together.  Most importantly though, you'll have two of the best friends you could have ever wished for.

Ye of little faith, remember that you are capable of so much.  Don't leave your GCSE and A Level exams almost in tears because you think you've messed them up - trust me, you really haven't. 

Appreciate those you love and who love you.  Make the most of the time you have with good friends and wonderful family - some of them won't be around for as long as you will hope.

In the 6 years you spend at primary school, do not waste a single second of them wishing you were older.  When you look back at your class photos and you remember the names of every single one of your peers, you'll wonder where the time went and be baffled at just how much things can change.  Losing Alice will hit you hard, but you'll remember her beauty and how she was always an angel, even here on Earth.  The same goes for when you're older; don't dwell on wishing you could go back because you can't - move forward confidently and keep going.

As for your diabetes; don't neglect it.  You may feel like you're invincible sometimes but you're not.  Don't blind yourself with ignorance, thinking that you're immune to the complications of diabetes and so you can treat it as you like.  You're only human, Daisy.  Remember your hypo treatments, your prescriptions and most of all take your insulin!  When your blood sugars are running so high that you can hardly drag yourself out of bed, or you're in A+E with DKA, you'll kick yourself for being so stupid. 

Last of all, don't run up a £240 phone bill ringing your friends' mobile phones from the landline when you're 14.  Mum will make you pay it back to her in full and rightly so.  You won't be happy when you have no pocket money for months on end.  Not only that but your mother will bring it up in front of people to embarrass you for years to come, so just don't bother.

Walk with your head held high and with a smile on your face.  You have so much to look forward to - believe me, I know...

From 19 Year Old You.




Sunday, 15 April 2012

Day 9: Keep Calm And Smile At Their Ignorance



The prompt for this post was to create a 'Keep Calm and...' poster based on diabetes.  Most people I talk to about diabetes are genuinely very interested and curious about what it's all about.  Unfortunately, not everyone's completely understanding and in my lifetime I've encountered some people who can't even see past their own nose, let alone begin to comprehend  even the basics of what it means to have diabetes.

The thing that really used to get my back up when I was younger was when people would say things like "I wish I had diabetes because then I couldn't eat sweets and then I would never get fat".  First of all, having diabetes doesn't mean that you can't eat a few sweets now and again.  Secondly, if you're a diabetic and you have a lot of low blood sugars, you will have to eat more to balance them out again and if this happens on a regular basis then you will still put weight on.  Thirdly, if you don't want to get fat, EXERCISE!  Lastly, don't ever wish you had diabetes because if it comes true you'll start wishing you'd kept your mouth shut.

Anyway, I used to get a bit moody when people used to say stupid things about diabetes.  I even remember running off crying at a sleepover when I was about 8 years old, because one of my friends had said I wasn't allowed a Malteser because I was diabetic.  Now, however, I think it's best to take this approach...




Day 8: From Diabetic To Diabetic



Recently someone I know was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.  I was scrolling down my Facebook news feed when I saw a status saying something along the lines of 'A jab a day to keep the doctor away. Everyday. Type 1 diabetes won't beat me!'  

I didn't think much of it at first - I'm so used to reading things about diabetes on the internet because I'm always either on Twitter as @DiabeticDais or reading diabetes blog posts or writing them myself.  It took a good few seconds before I realised that the status was out of place and that I'd never seen this person talk about diabetes before.

Anyway, we got chatting and it turned out he'd been diagnosed as a type 1 that night.  I let him know that I was there if he ever needed to talk, mainly because I wish that I'd had someone who understood what I was going through when I was sick of doing jabs or carb counting or just sick of diabetes in general.

Here are our messages, diabetic to diabetic:

Me:  Hiii, you ok?  How did your appointment with the specialist go today?

X:  Hey :) Yeah I'm alright thanks.  I'm used to stabbing myself now, aha!  Got the same as you, 4 times a day which is more flexible but obviously you know that aha.  

Me:  Aw, yeah, 4 a day means you can have a lie in if you want (Yay! Haha!)  Glad it went well and that you're already becoming a pro :P Have a nice day and watch out for low blood sugars in this weather! Carry something sugary with you just in case.

X:  Haha!  I wish!  I'm up at 8 most mornings.  Wakes you up when you stick a needle in your bum!  No worries about low blood sugars - it was 26 yesterday, 11 this morning and then 8 about an hour ago so it's steadying out now.  Carry a bottle of Lucozade with me now just in case, haha.  I'm sure after a week or so I'll be fine!

Me:  I bet it does!  You inspired me to give it a go but I chickened out last minute and stabbed my leg instead :)  Lucozade's the best, especially when you're bored of eating! I woke up at 16 this morning and felt crap so your 8 is impressive!

X:  It hurts more in the belly than in the bum!  Probably because I've got a fat arse, haha!  16?!  Someone lavished up on sugar yesterday - I'm a pro now too you see :P

Me:  Ok...I admit it! I did indulge in some Ben and Jerry's last night - I did inject for it though!  You still gotta' live right!?

X:  Haha, well I've eaten a Ben and Jerry's Caramel Chew Chew so I'll let you off.  I did my injection in my leg tonight - thought I'd mix it up a bit, aha!

Me:  Bloomin' 'eck, that's it, live the Diabetic high life! :P  What insulins are you on?

X:  I haven't a clue - one's a silver pen and one's a blue pen.  That's how clued up I am :P  I'm learning slowly!

So there's a snippet of our conversation.  Just thought it was funny how something as simple as having some ice cream involves so much more thought and consideration for a diabetic and how it's nice how another diabetic can appreciate this too.

Day 7: Fat Lantus



I recently went to visit my Diabetes Nurse for a check-up and a chat.  When I moved away from home for University last year, I decided that I'd retain my diabetes care in Nottingham rather than moving it up to Leeds.  The main reason for this decision was my Diabetes Nurse.  She is, in a word, fabulous.  The quality of my relationship with her and her care and knowledge were of far more importance to me than the convenience of having a diabetes team in my city.

Most of all I'd been concerned about gaining weight.  I don't have some hang-up about thinking I'm fat or anything when I know I only weigh within the lower 8 stone region, but I'm also only 5ft 2" and even a pound or two extra is noticeable to me at least.  I'm not idle - I exercise regularly.  I love food, but I don't eat more than I should.  So why was I starting to constantly feel like I'd stored a large sack of uncooked potatoes somewhere in my body?

After a few conversations with other diabetics, I started to blame my long-acting Lantus insulin.  To those who don't already know, insulin is a hormone.  Hormones inevitably have an affect on your body in some way, whether they change your mood, behaviour or something else.  Lantus is renowned for increasing a person's weight, much to the disappointment of many diabetics.


My Diabetes Nurse understood my concern.  After all most people want to feel that they're in control of their appearance.  She said that an alternative insulin called Levemir would probably work better for me.
Levemir is also a long acting, basal insulin.  I am able to take pretty much the same dose as I did of Lantus, twice a day.  However it is different in three massive ways:
  1. Levemir is more flexible.  If you need a dose adjustment you can do it and it will take affect straight away.  Lantus, however, can take up to 3 days before you even start to see a difference.
  2. Levemir is not as acidic as Lantus, so it doesn't sting when you inject.
  3. LEVEMIR DOES NOT CAUSE WEIGHT GAIN.
From this information it would seem that overall Levemir is more favourable than Lantus.  So why are diabetics even put on Lantus to begin with?  Of course I'm sure that lots of diabetics witness no negative side-effects of Lantus.  Still, when there are many who do, I don't understand why they should be made to endure weeks/months/years of seemingly unexplainable weight gain and other problems, especially when they could just be put on an arguably better insulin instead!

Sorry that this has been a ranty post - I'm sure there probably is a reason as to why Lantus would seem to work better for some people, but from my own experience it's just a recipe for frustration.  Backing good old Lev all the way!  

A Quick Note

Hi guys and girls.  Just a quicky.  I know I haven't been great at keeping up with my 30 posts over 30 days, but it is a challenge and I'm still determined to rise to it. 

The past couple of weeks have been hectic, yet so enjoyable.  It was so nice to go home over Easter and visit family and friends, although now I miss them more than ever.  I started my new job last Tuesday which I absolutely love.  Oh yeah and the hard drive of my laptop died a sudden death, much to the dismay of my mother who paid almost the amount of a new laptop for a replacement hard drive as little as 6 months ago.

Thankfully my superhero of a boyfriend has managed to save the day by providing me with his spare laptop for the time being.  

Today's my day off so I'm currently sat at the end of the bed, laptop ironically on my lap, Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King playing (I've watched all 3 films today) and about to hammer out some catch-up HAWMC posts.  Wish me luck!

P.S.  Big thank you to Vicki Gibbs for checking up on me during my absence from the blogging world.  Was really thoughtful of you lovely and I really appreciated it :) x