This was one of the simpler equations we had in first term calculus (as I recall).
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Monday, September 12, 2011
poor girl or coming "train wreck"...
An unhappy and very pregnant girl walked over and I asked her if she had gone through the screening van. She said she had and said "my blood sugar was high". I replied "what was your blood sugar?"
She replied "399".
"It was 399? Do you have gestational [diabetics}?
"Yes but I've been a type 1 since I was 10."
Later, I talked with the Nurse who was taking the blood sugar readings and she said she'd talked with this girl. This young woman was actually 26 (but looks a lot younger) and claimed to be 7 months along. However, we (the nurse and I) agree that she should looked a lot further along than a mere 7 months!
The young woamn said she was on insulin 4 times a day and had taken a shot a hour before the 399 reading. I later talked with this girl and her husband (or boy friend) and they both looked scared! Well, they should look scared! The young woman n eeds some serious medcal care and that means some heavy duty medical insurance. I hope he has a good job with good medical insurance but I fear they are unwed so she can still be on her parent's health plan. Once she is too old (27 years old?), she won't be on her pariental health insurance. She would then have to have a husband with good medical insurance or a good job herself with good medical incurance. She is going to have trouble holding a job when her type 1 diabetics get much worst. (We could ask my late younger brother Charlie about being a juvenile onset type one and the piss poor medical insurance such folks but "late" means he is dead. Charlie died of complications from his dibetics...)
I fear that "Omamacare" will be overturned by the next Republician President and insurance companies will go back to:
- refusing to insure those with pre-existing medical conditions siuch as diabetics or
- those who develop serious new medical conditions (i.e. type 2 diabetics)
- letting pharm companies charge why too much for meds or to increase costs after a med has been in use for a while or
- unbundling costs and jacking them too high -er- "making them reasonable" (OK, too damn high) and
- insurance companies not covering medically required medical devices. Some of these "medcially required devices include:
- diabetic test stripes
- catheders
- eye glasses
- hearing aids
- prothestic limbs and
- a number of other devices...
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
August 2011 scores
=============================================================================================
1 Mon 123 110
2 Tue --- ---
3 Wed 125 107
4 Thu --- ---
5 Fri 136 127
6 Sat --- ---
7 Sun --- ---
8 Mon 88 113
9 Tue --- ---
10 Wed 112 141
11 Thu --- ---
12 Fri --- ---
13 Sat --- ---
14 Sun --- ---
15 Mon 123 133
16 Tue --- ---
17 Wed 85 99
18 Thu --- ---
19 Fri 100 107
20 Sat --- ---
21 Sun --- ---
22 Mon 99 126 I forgot to take my morning pills and am amazed at how low this score was!
23 Tue --- ---
24 Wed --- ---
25 Thu --- ---
26 Fri --- ---
27 Sat --- ---
28 Sun --- ---
29 Mon --- ---
30 Tue --- ---
31 Wed --- ---
Tuesday, August 02, 2011
July 2011 (final results)
==========================================================
1 Mon 147 --- The blood meter stopped working.
2 Tue --- ---
3 Wed --- --- 149 I replaced the meter battery and got this 'test score'.
4 Thu 147 187
5 Fri --- ---
6 Sat 113 160
7 Sun --- ---
8 Mon 121 123
9 Tue --- ---
10 Wed --- ---
11 Thu 129 149 With a different meter, 110 at 3:40 pm
12 Fri --- ---
13 Sat 128 168
14 Sun --- ---
15 Mon --- ---
16 Tue --- ---
17 Wed --- ---
18 Thu 131 149
19 Fri --- ---
20 Sat 111 160
21 Sun --- ---
22 Mon 146 140
23 Tue --- ---
24 Wed --- ---
25 Thu 117 156
26 Fri --- ---
27 Sat 128 118 Pre-dinner test of 113
28 Sun --- ---
29 Mon 121 127
30 Tue --- ---
31 Wed --- ---
At the advise of my diabetes educator, I did multiple tests on the 22nd, 25th and 27th. The test results for the 22nd were:
am 146
4 pm 324 I seriously question the validity of this reading as it was the old meter with (possibly) old test stripes
pm 140
Then, multiple tests on the 22nd
802 am 117
1050 am 158
203 pm 136
404 pm 123
513 pm 96
940 pm 156
In an episode of "Babylon 5", one character said "I'm Russian; we always question good news and never question bad news." [or words to that effect] Thus, I question the 96 but don't question the 158 or 156...
Finally, the extra test on the 27th:
am 128
pre-dinner 113
pm 118
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
July 2011 results
===============================================================================
1 Mon 147 --- The blood meter stopped working.
2 Tue --- ---
3 Wed --- --- 149 I replaced the meter battery and got this 'test score'.
4 Thu 147 187
5 Fri --- ---
6 Sat 113 160
7 Sun --- ---
8 Mon 121 123
9 Tue --- ---
10 Wed --- ---
11 Thu 129 149 With a different meter, 110 at 3:40 pm
12 Fri --- ---
13 Sat 128 168
14 Sun --- ---
15 Mon --- ---
16 Tue --- ---
17 Wed --- ---
18 Thu 131 149
19 Fri --- ---
20 Sat 111 160
21 Sun --- ---
22 Mon 146 140
23 Tue --- ---
24 Wed --- ---
25 Thu 117 156
26 Fri --- ---
27 Sat 128 118
28 Sun --- ---
29 Mon --- ---
30 Tue --- ---
31 Wed --- ---
Thursday, July 21, 2011
20 July 2011
Lunch: at Casey's Cowtown: chicken "fingers", french fries, cottage
cheese and water
Snack: it was hot out so I had about a half cup of chocolate ice creamme
Dinner: one and a half of two hamburgers, potatoe salad and an MGD
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
July 2011
===============================================================================
1 Mon 147 --- The blood meter stopped working.
2 Tue --- ---
3 Wed --- --- 149 I replaced the meter battery and got this 'test score'.
4 Thu 147 187
5 Fri --- ---
6 Sat 113 160
7 Sun --- ---
8 Mon 121 123
9 Tue --- ---
10 Wed --- ---
11 Thu 129 149 With a different meter, 110 at 3:40 pm
12 Fri --- ---
13 Sat 128 168 I went back to the first meter to run out the test stripes.
14 Sun --- ---
15 Mon --- ---
16 Tue --- ---
17 Wed --- ---
18 Thu 131 149
19 Fri --- ---
20 Sat 111 ---
21 Sun --- ---
22 Mon --- ---
23 Tue --- ---
24 Wed --- ---
25 Thu --- ---
26 Fri --- ---
27 Sat --- ---
28 Sun --- ---
29 Mon --- ---
30 Tue --- ---
31 Wed --- ---
Friday, July 15, 2011
a day's worth of testing
- 522 am - 122
- 943 am - 112
- 1156 am - 136
- 229 pm - 251
- 456 pm - 198
- 743 pm - 129
Monday, July 11, 2011
July 2011 (to date)
=================================================================================
AM PM
1 Mon 147 --- The blood meter stopped working.
2 Tue --- ---
3 Wed --- --- 149 I replaced the meter battery and got this 'test score'.
4 Thu 147 187
5 Fri --- ---
6 Sat 113 160
7 Sun --- ---
8 Mon 121 123
9 Tue --- ---
10 Wed --- ---
11 Thu 129 ---
12 Fri --- ---
13 Sat --- ---
14 Sun --- ---
15 Mon --- ---
16 Tue --- ---
17 Wed --- ---
18 Thu --- ---
19 Fri --- ---
20 Sat --- ---
21 Sun --- ---
22 Mon --- ---
23 Tue --- ---
24 Wed --- ---
25 Thu --- ---
26 Fri --- ---
27 Sat --- ---
28 Sun --- ---
29 Mon --- ---
30 Tue --- ---
High readings; low readings (both by my standards... :-) )
Friday, July 08, 2011
July 2011
July 2011
================================================================================
1 Mon 147 --- The blood meter stopped working.
2 Tue --- ---
3 Wed --- --- 149 I replaced the meter battery and got this 'test score'.
4 Thu 147 187
5 Fri --- ---
6 Sat 113 160
7 Sun --- ---
8 Mon 121 ---
9 Tue --- ---
10 Wed --- ---
11 Thu --- ---
12 Fri --- ---
13 Sat --- ---
14 Sun --- ---
15 Mon --- ---
16 Tue --- ---
17 Wed --- ---
18 Thu --- ---
19 Fri --- ---
20 Sat --- ---
21 Sun --- ---
22 Mon --- ---
23 Tue --- ---
24 Wed --- ---
25 Thu --- ---
26 Fri --- ---
27 Sat --- ---
28 Sun --- ---
29 Mon --- ---
30 Tue --- ---
31 Wed --- ---
Monday, July 04, 2011
June 2011 scores
=====================
01 Wed 128 182
02 Thu --- ---
03 Fri 130 182
04 Sat --- ---
05 Sun --- ---
06 Mon 157 127
07 Tue --- ---
08 Wed 130 177
09 Thu --- ---
10 Fri 140 ---
11 Sat --- 102
12 Sun --- ---
13 Mon 134 170
14 Tue --- ---
15 Wed 122 161
16 Thu --- ---
17 Fri 126 100
18 Sat --- ---
19 Sun --- ---
20 Mon 134 156
21 Tue --- ---
22 Wed 117 ---
23 Thu --- ---
24 Fri 118 111
25 Sat --- ---
26 Sun --- ---
27 Mon 125 110
28 Tue --- ---
29 Wed 134 ---*
30 Thu --- 107
Red reports are high by my standards; Blue reports reports are low by my standards.
*I went to a formal Lions Club dinner. Doing my usual Monday/Wednesday/Friday evening blood test (2 hours past forks down) would have been after my bedtime and so I didn't do it. Since I was in a pattern of getting up at 4:15, I was going to bed early (8:15 pm - 8:30 pm).
Friday, June 24, 2011
June 2011 blood sugar results
====================
AM PM
01 Wed 128 182
02 Thu --- ---
03 Fri 130 182
04 Sat --- ---
05 Sun --- ---
06 Mon 157 127
07 Tue --- ---
08 Wed 130 177
09 Thu --- ---
10 Fri 140 ---
11 Sat --- 102
12 Sun --- ---
13 Mon 134 170
14 Tue --- ---
15 Wed 122 161
16 Thu --- ---
17 Fri 126 100
18 Sat --- ---
19 Sun --- ---
20 Mon 134 156
21 Tue --- ---
22 Wed 117 ---
23 Thu --- ---
24 Fri 118 111
25 Sat --- ---
26 Sun --- ---
27 Mon --- ---
28 Tue --- ---
29 Wed --- ---
30 Thu --- ---
31 Fri --- ---
High by my standards; low by my standards. AM means immediately after getting out of bed and PM means a blood test two hours after finishing my evening meal.
Friday, June 17, 2011
June results to date...
====================
AM PM
01 Wed 128 182
02 Thu --- ---
03 Fri 130 182
04 Sat --- ---
05 Sun --- ---
06 Mon 157 127
07 Tue --- ---
08 Wed 130 177
09 Thu --- ---
10 Fri 140 ---
11 Sat --- 102
12 Sun --- ---
13 Mon 134 170
14 Tue --- ---
15 Wed 122 161
16 Thu --- ---
17 Fri 126 100
18 Sat --- ---
19 Sun --- ---
20 Mon --- ---
21 Tue --- ---
22 Wed --- ---
23 Thu --- ---
24 Fri --- ---
25 Sat --- ---
26 Sun --- ---
27 Mon --- ---
28 Tue --- ---
29 Wed --- ---
30 Thu --- ---
31 Fri --- ---
Scores that are high for me or low for me.
Monday, June 13, 2011
results for June 2011
====================
AM PM
01 Wed 128 182
02 Thu --- ---
03 Fri 130 182
04 Sat --- ---
05 Sun --- ---
06 Mon 157 127
07 Tue --- ---
08 Wed 130 177
09 Thu --- ---
10 Fri 140 ---
11 Sat --- 102
12 Sun --- ---
13 Mon 134 170
14 Tue --- ---
15 Wed --- ---
16 Thu --- ---
17 Fri --- ---
18 Sat --- ---
19 Sun --- ---
20 Mon --- ---
21 Tue --- ---
22 Wed --- ---
23 Thu --- ---
24 Fri --- ---
25 Sat --- ---
26 Sun --- ---
27 Mon --- ---
28 Tue --- ---
29 Wed --- ---
30 Thu --- ---
31 Fri --- ---
High for me; low for me.
Monday, June 06, 2011
my meds effective 6 June 2011
Aspirin 81 mg (heart) morning
Vitamin C - 1000 mg
Vitamin E - 200 IU
Beta Carotene 25,000 IU
Postassium 99 mg
Garlic 4000 mg (2000 mg twice a day)
Vitamin B complex
B1 - 50 mg
B2 - 12.5 mg
B3 - 50 mg
B6 -12.5 mg
Folic Acid - 50 mcg
B12 - 12.5 mcg
Biotin - 25 mcg
Pantogthenic Acid - 50 mg
Calcium - 118 mg
Glucosamine - 3000 mg (1500 mg twice a day)
Condroitin - 2400 mg (1200 mg twice a day)
_________________________________________________________________________
Current prescriptions effective 5 May 2011
Actos 30mg (diabetes) evening weight gain/high-low blood sugar
HYDROCHLOROTHIAZIDE 25mg (water pill) morning increased blood sugar
Januvia 100mg (diabetes) evening
METFORMIN HCL 1000mg (diabetes) 2/day
METOPROLOL TARTRAGE 50mg (heart) 2/day weight gain
OMEPRAZOLE 20mg (stomach) ½ hour before breakfast
ProAir HFA (albuterol sulfate) (inhaler) as needed
SIMVASTATIN 20mg (anti-cholesterol) before bed time
TAMSULOSIN 0.4 mg (better urination) with evening pills
_________________________________________________________
I have given this drug list to Dr. Robert W. Hostetler, M.D.
620.227.1371
800.279.0429
fax: 620.227.1208
Friday, June 03, 2011
reconciliation
I grossed her out when I said that when I am checking my blood sugar level, I often stick the needle in and twist it around. This is to get a bigger hole in my arm and thus, a better blood bead. The problem is that once I take the blood drop into the meter, I have a nice sized hole in my arm that is slow to close up and I end up using a piece of Kleenex or a band aid.
Oh, well, I'll get used to it.
For a long time, I thought that going onto insulin was the last step before losing limbs and dying of heart failure (it was for my Father and youngest Brother, wasn't it?). It was the final step into the abyss and that step into damnation. My MD told me I was being silly and my wife said I was being a drama queen. Of course, this simplistic attitude ignores:
- my Father smoked 2-3 packs of unfiltered cigarettes a day - Chesterfields - for 35 years (his admission) and may have drank too much. I don't and have never, smoked. I don't drink much because I am alergic to red wine and nearly all distill liquors and don't like most beers. Also, I simply lost interest in getting drunk after New Year's Eve 1999. It was that last hangover on 1 January 2000 that "did me in"...
- my youngest Brother (Charles Andrew Bell) smoked, snorted coke and didn't take care of his self (i.e. ate badly - pizza and
Croak-ahCoke Cola -, didn't exercise and didn't properly check his blood sugar (when you see a person's blood sugar check kit in his trunk and you know he didn't put it there after dinner, you know he hasn't been using it lately!) - many folks take the injected drugs and do just fine (I work with a woman who has been taking a couple of injected drugs daily for years and she is doing fine.)
It has only in the past couple of years sunk into me that when comparing type 1 and type 2, I needed to put emphasis on the "diabetic" part of "diabetic type 2". It has always been about being "diabetic" and not if I am being treated with syringe or pill. It was a real shock to learn that type 2s take insulin also.
I'll have to remember to start carrying my list of meds around with me and to show it to Anna D. (the nurse I talked with) at the next Lions Convention.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
May results
=====================================
AM PM
01 Sun --- ---
02 Mon 154 195
03 Tue --- ---
04 Wed 133 198
05 Thu --- ---
06 Fri 135 146
07 Sat --- --- Seven years since diagnosis
08 Sun --- ---
09 Mon 145 194
10 Tue --- ---
11 Wed 139 146
12 Thu --- ---
13 Fri 138 135
14 Sat --- ---
15 Sun --- ---
16 Mon 124 143
17 Tue --- ---
18 Wed 137 180
19 Thu --- ---
20 Fri 122 173
21 Sat --- ---
22 Sun --- ---
23 Mon 154 163
24 Tue --- ---
25 Wed --- ---
26 Thu --- ---
27 Fri 137 118
28 Sat --- ---
29 Sun --- ---
30 Mon 123 143
31 Tue --- ---
Reports that are way too high.
Saturday, May 28, 2011
May 2011 blood sugar Scores
===================================
AM PM
01 Sun --- ---
02 Mon 154 195
03 Tue --- ---
04 Wed 133 198
05 Thu --- ---
06 Fri 135 146
07 Sat --- --- Seven years since my diagnosis.*
08 Sun --- ---
09 Mon 145 194
10 Tue --- ---
11 Wed 139 146
12 Thu --- ---
13 Fri 138 135
14 Sat --- ---
15 Sun --- ---
16 Mon 124 143
17 Tue --- ---
18 Wed 137 180
19 Thu --- ---
20 Fri 122 173
21 Sat --- ---
22 Sun --- ---
23 Mon 154 163
24 Tue --- ---
25 Wed --- ---
26 Thu --- ---
27 Fri 137 118
28 Sat --- ---
29 Sun --- ---
30 Mon --- ---
31 Tue --- ---
Denotes an excessively high score even by my somewhat lax standards.
* I "celebrated" by not celebrating.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Irony
In January 2010, I was given an anti-cholesterol pill and a couple of others for the blood pressure. Then, my MD noted my A1C was going up so he added Januvia and Actos. That didn't seem to help much so it is looking like I'll have to escalate to injectables in August. I also have had trouble losing weight and feel it a victory that my weight hasn't inexplicably gone up!
My wife and I looked up the side effects of all my meds the other day. Can you imagine my shock to find that two of the "new" drugs (prescribed by the VA Heart Doc, not my Family MD) include the side effects of:
- increased blood sugar and
- weight gain
I am going to be seeing an MD the end of May so I'll bring in my current list of drugs and see what he recommends. Then, I'll have to get my Family MD to "correct" the current list of prescriptions...
Thursday, April 28, 2011
April 2011 blood sugar readings...
AM PM
1 Fri 168 230
2 Sat --- ---
3 Sun --- ---
4 Mon 167 198
5 Tue --- ---
6 Wed 185 ---
7 Thu --- ---
8 Fri 139 143
9 Sat --- ---
10 Sun --- ---
11 Mon 119 114
12 Tue --- ---
13 Wed 146 ---
14 Thu --- 180
15 Fri 147 131
16 Sat --- ---
17 Sun --- ---
18 Mon 158 178
19 Tue --- ---
20 Wed 159 187
21 Thu --- ---
22 Fri --- ---
23 Sat --- ---
24 Sun --- ---
25 Mon 147 131
26 Tue --- ---
27 Wed 131 159
28 Thu --- ---
29 Fri --- ---
30 Sat --- ---
31 Sun --- ---
AM denotes blood test immediately after getting out of bed in the morning and PM denotes a blood test two hours "after fork down".
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
April 2011 blood sugar scores
AM PM
01 Fri 168 230
02 Sat --- ---
03 Sun --- ---
04 Mon 167 198
05 Tue --- ---
06 Wed 185 ---
07 Thu --- ---
08 Fri 139 143
09 Sat --- ---
10 Sun --- ---
11 Mon 119 114
12 Tue --- ---
13 Wed 146 ---
14 Thu --- 180
15 Fri 147 164
16 Sat --- ---
17 Sun --- ---
18 Mon 158 178
19 Tue --- ---
20 Wed 159 187
21 Thu --- ---
22 Fri --- ---
23 Sat --- ---
24 Sun --- ---
25 Mon 147 131
26 Tue --- ---
27 Wed --- ---
28 Thu --- ---
29 Fri --- ---
30 Sat --- ---
My morning and evening (2 hours after "fork down") scores.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
support group
I arrived early and took a good seat (the room was empty) and was reading a novel when I realized someone else was in the room. A lady from a nearby town had come in and we talked in general. About 15 minutes after the meeting was to start, we both realized the facilitator wasn't coming and got up and left.
This was the second month in a roll I had been stood up.
I hope the diabetic educator (Veronica) is well and I hope this support group hasn't folded like
- the three I know of at the Dodge City hospital since May 2004 and
- the group at the Mexican American Ministry on north F street and
- the Senior Center which was holding monthly meetings and had free A1C screenings each month. They quit both shortly after I joined when I turned 55 and joined.
So, what can a support group teach? Maybe a support group facilitator could discuss what is to come for each member and allow diabetics the chance to "vent" around folks who have the same problems? Discussions of drug reactions and "eating good" always seem to interest members. I know this lady (mentioned above) is far more familiar with my "issues" than my wife is as my wife is not diabetic...
Friday, January 14, 2011
Fwd: Decide the Best Video in 2010
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: | Decide the Best Video in 2010 |
---|---|
Date: | Thu, 13 Jan 2011 10:32:27 -0600 (CST) |
From: | ADA Diabetes World <news@diabetes.org> |
Reply-To: | ADA Diabetes World <news@diabetes.org> |
Organization: | American Diabetes Association |
To: | Mike.Bell@noaa.gov |
Stop Diabetes http://main.diabetes.org/site/R?i=rKZ5GB2e25WSTKvW_BRkLw.. Share Best Video in 2010? Decide Who Will Win Share Your VisionContest With movie award season in full swing, now it is your turn to be the critic. Vote for the most compelling video in the Share Your Vision to Stop Diabetes® contest today. Between now and January 24, you can select the top three winners of the contest, sponsored by VSP® Vision Care. Don't miss this opportunity to view these powerful and inspirational entries that capture the many reasons why we need to Stop Diabetes once and for all. The winner is... http://main.diabetes.org/site/R?i=O21aa-gUn5ziTVnYEWDU7g.. LEARN Read This before Shopping Check Out the 2011 Consumer Guide Overwhelmed by the number of diabetes products on the market? Select the best products to meet your needs with the help of Diabetes Forecast's 2011 Consumer Guide. Read in-depth, side-by-side comparisons. Learn what key functions to consider. See what cutting-edge technologies are coming down the pike. Use the New Year as an opportunity to take charge of your health. Get informed. http://main.diabetes.org/site/R?i=eVwW4D8b0zGX53-3iMh5Kg.. ACT Have You Voted Lately? Help Make a $200,000 Difference Help us reach first place! The American Diabetes Association is a candidate in the Members Project®, a partnership between American Express and TakePart. Currently we are in 3rd place. Help increase our chance to receive $200,000 to support diabetes research, education and advocacy initiatives. Don't forget! Vote weekly between now and February 20 and help make a difference. Vote here. http://main.diabetes.org/site/R?i=pIOqtMDW5kVzstjYnenbRA.. GIVE Honor a Loved One Create a Lasting Tribute to Someone with Diabetes The Always & Forever Tribute online feature allows you to personalize a webpage with messages, photos and a donation form that collects gifts in honor of your loved one. Every time a memorial gift is received, the American Diabetes Association will send a gift announcement to you. Create a Tribute page and give hope to millions living with diabetes by raising important funds. Start now. http://main.diabetes.org/site/R?i=U78UBcipG11BfQgoZ3TAvw.. This newsletter brought to you in part by an unrestricted educational grant from: Dignity Memorial http://main.diabetes.org/site/R?i=ahrDE5QvP8gVUVKsd1ZuAg.. =============================== Follow Us =============================== Twitter http://main.diabetes.org/site/R?i=9f8kQm7cQmAMcQNpyCZYKA.. Facebook http://main.diabetes.org/site/R?i=7u_5N-4yY_ly-5TKFau_bw.. Flickr http://main.diabetes.org/site/R?i=GvX7Bdl00eN11NG0hoz60w.. YouTube http://main.diabetes.org/site/R?i=FoXS0YX74r6lZNsKOhkS-g.. =============================== American Diabetes Association 1701 North Beauregard Street Alexandria, VA 22311 1-800-DIABETES Please add news@diabetes.org to your address book to ensure you receive all future emails. Click Here to Unsubscribe. http://main.diabetes.org/site/CO?i=l6Ket1TZ1yG996hF6GhPLemzcZr4F9x8&cid=3324 Copyright 1995-2010. American Diabetes Association. All rights reserved.