One More Ride in 2007

There is one more ride for this season. the ride is the Rocky Mountain Harley-Davidson 22nd Annual Toy Run to The children's Hospital.

Weather for Denver on Sunday is COLD!!! Possible snow on Saturday. I really hope the roads are clear.

Dress layered to stay warm. Wind proof and Water proof boots, Trousers, Jacket, Gloves and full face Helmet.

Once this ride is done, the bike goes in storage until early Spring.

Here are a couple of YouTube songs to bring a smile to your face and to get you through till spring.

Arlo Guthrie/Motorcycle Song

Richard Thompson - 1952 Vincent Black Lightning

Ride Safe!
Keep the Rubber side down and the Shinny side up!

WooHoo

WooHoo! The end of the month has arrived.

Tomorrow morning I will open a new vial of Humalog R. Can’t you just feel the excitement? It is almost like Christmas morning. I don’t go through a whole vial in a month’s time and it only lasts for 29 days, so I change it at the beginning of every month. I stretch the 29 days to 30 or 31, so I don’t have to think about when it is time to get a new vial.

I use the same methodology with my Humalin, except my change date is on the 15^th of every month.

Symilin comes in a smaller vial and it takes me about 2 weeks to go through a vial, so I don’t exceed the the 29 day limit.

Lantis also comes in a pen that holds about two weeks of medication, so there is no 29 day violation to worry about.

I have had my latest sensor in for almost 3 days. I expect a “Change Sensor” message in the next few hours. Once I got past all of the “brew-ha-ha” earlier in the week, this sensor has been working great. I hope to do a “Find new sensor” function and use this sensor for another 3 days.

I was having a problem sleeping at night with the CGM sitting on the night stand. It seems that the “Weak Signal” alert would wake me in the middle of a fitful sleep. My body must have been blocking the signal. I fixed the problem by sleeping with my CGM next to me. It wasn’t very warm or cozy and I found myself barely waking up to check, that I hadn’t lost it. So, I decided I had to find a better solution. I know have a loop of string hanging from the headboard of the bed. When I go to bed I clip the CGM on to the string. The string is right above my head, so I figure no matter what position I sleep in, the body blockage is minimal. So far, So good.

I sometimes wonder if I think about this stuff to much. Then again, it is the only way to stay alive and stay healthy, so I guess I have to.

Bad Sensor, Bad! Sensor!

I woke up and checked my BG with a finger stick. The measure is 144, which is a little high, but within range.

I drink my coffee and get ready for to put in a new sensor.

With a click of the inserter the sensor goes in. I don’t see any bleeding and it looks like I have a good insertion. I wait 5 minutes and then start the sensor and wait for the first BG request to be issued. The sensor was inserted around 7:40AM so I am expecting my calibration BG around 9:40AM.

At 9:24AM I receive a Sensor Error alert. I clear then alert and wait.

At 10:33AM I have a “Meter BG Now” message. My BG is 188 and I enter this reading into the CGM.

At 10:59AM I get a Calibration Error alert immediately followed by a “Meter BG Now” message. It has not yet been a half hour since my last BG check, so I use the same reading of 188.

At 11:24AM I get another Calibration Error alert immediately followed by a “Change Sensor” message. I decide to remove the sensor and start with a new sensor in the morning.

I am batting 500 so far with the sensors. Three have worked and three have not. It is good that I am getting 6 days out of the ones working to make up for the non-working sensors.

The next morning, I repeat my ritual of drinking coffee and getting ready to insert a new sensor. My BG this morning is 96. Again the sensor goes in, no bleeding and no pain. At 5 minutes I start a New Sensor and wait for the BG request. The sensor was inserted at approximately 8:30AM.

At 9:33, 9:43, 10:02 and 10:07 I receive “Sensor Error” alerts.

I have had enough and I call the 800 number of Medtronics to see if they can help.

Did you know that if you have a “C” at the end of you sensor part number, that you don’t need to refrigerate them? I didn’t know that.

Did you know that you should wait 1 minute from the time that you disconnect the transmitter from the sensor before reconnecting the transmitter to the sensor? I didn’t know that either.

It is now suggested that you change the insertion angle from 45 degrees to 55 or 60 degrees. It seems the insertion needle bends a little bit when it is inserted. Due to the shape of the needle and the angle on the end of the needle, it curves upward as it is being inserted. So, you should raise the end of the inserter 5 to 15 degrees to get a better angle on the sensor during insertion.

Medtronics would like to examine my sensor, so I was asked to remove it. I will receive a container and an envelope in the mail. The container is to return the sensor and an unopened sensor to Medtronics for their examination. Medtronics will also ship me 3 new sensors to replace my non-working and unopened sensors. I though this was very nice of them.

I removed my sensor and inserted another sensor around 12:00PM today.

I received a lost sensor message at 12:19PM followed by a Sensor error message at 12:46PM and another sensor error massage at 12:47PM and 1:07PM.

An hour and a half later I received the BG Now message. I entered my BG of 143.

I may have a good sensor on this try.

Out and Back

10:30 AM. The car is loaded, 3 suit cases, 1 back pack, 2 small carry-on bags, a cooler, a case of water and a bag of snacks. We are headed to Kansas City from Denver.

It should take us about 10 hours of driving. We are leaving a day early, as the weather is expected to change and I don't want to drive in the snow and rain.

Ten years ago, we were making the same journey. We waited to late and the snow started. The weather turned this trip into 15 hour drive. About 90 miles east of Denver I was passing an 18 wheeler when by back tires lost traction. I was even with the front bumper of the truck. The trucker let off his throttle as the back end of the car swung to the left, then swung to the right, just missing the front end of the truck.

Once again, the back end of the car swung to the left and as it swung to the right, the front wheels came free and I was spinning down the middle of the highway at 60 miles per hour. I am sliding to the right side of the highway. The car does a complete 360 degree turn and comes to a stop on the right shoulder of the highway. Just as we stop the 18 wheeler passes us.

I look around, and ask if everyone is alright. The kids are OK, my wife is OK and the car is OK.

We slowly pull back on to the Highway and continue with our journey. Only now we are driving at 40 miles per hour and not 60 MPH. Our weather is better on the 2007 drive and we are glad to have a sunny day to drive.

3:30 PM MT (4:30 PM CT) we stop at Hays Kansas for a break and a stretch. We have been listening to an Audio book to make the time o by faster.

8:30 PM MT (9:30 PM MT) we pull into the driveway of our destination in KC. The only problem we had was a burnt out headlight.

On the fifth day, 5:30 AM MT we leave our relatives and start the drive back to Denver.

We make a few more stops on the way back. We seem to be a little more tired and need to stretch a little more.

4:30 PM MT, we arrive back home. A sunny day with no snow or rain. The round trip was 1,280 miles.

I am full!

A small bowl of cereal and a glass of juice. I don't want to eat to much, because I want to save room for the big meal.

A few hours later I have few snacks to keep me going until the big meal.

A scoop of mashed potatoes.
A scoop of green bean casserole.
A scoop of dressing.
A scoop of another dressing.
A scoop of cheesy corn.
A roll.
Some gravy and a little turkey.

Round two:
A scoop of mashed potatoes.
A scoop of green bean casserole.
A scoop of dressing.
A scoop of another dressing.
A scoop of cheesy corn.
A roll.
Some gravy and a little turkey.

Time stop and figure out how much insulin I need. I take twelve units. This is twice the amount I normally take for a big meal. I am full and now it is time to sit back and let my stomach do it's job.

A piece of ice cream cake.
A piece of pumpkin pie.
A cup of coffee.
A piece of pecan pie and six more units of insulin.

I am really full. I have to stop eating. No more for the night.

My CGM alarm sounds at 2:00 AM. My BG has spiked to 300. I do 3 more units of insulin.

5:00 AM, the CGM alarm is going off again. My BG is sitting at 240. Three hours after my last Humalog injection, I think it is safe to do a little more. I inject 3 more units of Humalog.

I roll out of bed at 8:00 and my BG is 124. I still feel full from last night. It has to be a light breakfast this morning followed by light eating the rest of the day. No more pie, or dressing or mashed potatoes.

Try it Again

After two failures it is time to try it again.

I prepare my insertion site. I load the sensor into the insertion tool. I have decided to move the insertion site up to avoid being to close to the belt line. I don’t want a repeat of last time.

The sensor goes in. There is no blood. I have a strong signal.

I get a good BG and CGM correlation after two hours. I get another good BG and CGM correlation after six hours.

I think this sensor and insertion is going to work.

It feels good to get a good insertion after two unsuccessful attempts.

Gushing

What went wrong with the last sensor insertion? I think maybe the transmitter battery was not fully charged. I replaced the battery in the transmitter charger. I replaced the battery in the CGM. I see the blinking lights on the transmitter indicating it is charging, so I let it charge for eight hours.

The next morning I prepare to insert the next sensor. I shaved the night before, so the skin is less sensitive to the alcoholic wipe. The sensor goes in with only a small amount of blood. Five minutes later I connect the transmitter and I have a strong signal to the CGM. It looks like this insertion is a good connection. I have two hours before the next required BG test.

The “BG NOW” alert is sounded. I test and have a BG of 124 the CGM is telling me I have a BG of 74. I enter the BG 124 into the CGM to get a calibration. Fifty points off is not to big of a difference for the calculations to correct. I look at the insertion site and I see a little more blood appearing around the insertion site. I don’t think this is a good sign, but so far the numbers are tracking close together, so it looks like a go. I have six hours to my next BG test.

It is time for the next BG. I test and I my BG is 158, while the CGM is telling me I have a BG of 73, so I enter the 158 as a calibration reading. I don’t receive a calibration error as I expect. I do inspect the insertion site and I see a small pool of blood forming at the from of the sensor. I am a little perplexed by this, so I consult my T3, the right woman, to see what opinion she has about the situation.

She looks at the insertion site and immediately scrunches her face into a “this doesn’t look so good” expression. My thoughts exactly! It is Sunday night, so I can’t call diabetes support team at the clinic. I decide it is best to remove the transmitter and sensor. I am now thinking that the sensor is too close to my belt line and the movement of my belly is causing the bleeding.
I work at removing the clear IV tape and this causes more movement of the sensor and transmitter. Once I get the IV tape off, a small pool of blood drips on to my left foot. I remove the transmitter and I pull at the sensor tape to loosen the sensor. This causes more movement of the sensor. I am struggling with the sensor tape, so I use a pair of tweezers to loosen most of the sensor tape. A small amount of tape remains stuck to me as I pull at the sensor and try to remove it. I pull a little harder at the sensor and the tape breaks free and the sensor pops out.

T3 is watching and immediately she turns a whiter shade of pale as the blood start gushing down my belly and onto my shorts and left foot. I grab several tissues and apply pressure to stop the bleeding; I feel blood on my fingers as I look at the insertion site. I have bled through the tissues; I grab another handful of tissues and apply pressure. I do this 2 more times before the bleeding stops.

I tape a bandage over the insertion site. This is the second unsuccessful sensor insertion in as many days. I decide to wait for a day or tow before I try another sensor.

The Big Day 28 years Later

The Big day.

Tying the knot.

Making a commitment to a long term relationship.

My best friend and my fiancé’s best friend. Her Mother and my Dad. The Minister, his wife and their 5 year old son. The right woman and myself. Those were the people that attended our wedding.

I was nervous and I wore the wrong shirt. I did bring the right shirt and made a quick change. It was the very late 70s, no tuxedoes, the shirt was a peasant shirt, so was the wrong shirt, but the color was not right. We wrote our vowels and the Minister spoke the words. It we very nice, very quite and very simple. After the ceremony we went to a nice restaurant and had dinner and called everyone else in the family that we didn’t tell or invite.

Twenty eight years later the right woman is still the right woman. Today we exchanged cards in the morning and went to a nice restaurant for dinner. I managed to wear an acceptable shirt. I was not nervous but our youngest daughter was. She decided to stay with some friends, so we could have the house to ourselves. Well not rally to ourselves we still had the dogs hanging around, oh and the cat. The Dinner was very nice, very quite and easy to enjoy with the right woman.

Earlier that day it was time to put in a new sensor. This is the third one I have done, so it went in easily. Not as nervous as the first time. A very small amount of blood appeared around the insertion site. The CGM did not pick up a signal right away. I disconnected and then reconnected the sensor and transmitter. Then the CGM picked up the signal. I applied the occlusive dressing, (tape), and waited for the two hours to pas to get the “BG NOW” message on the CGM.

Two hours went by and the message appeared, I took the BG reading entered it and then prepared to wait for six hours for another “BG NOW” message. About an hour later I received the “BG NOW” message, so I took a reading. The CGM said by BG was 50 and the finger stick said it was 124. It was off, but that is what I expected with a new sensor.

An hour later I was asked for another BG reading and I begin to suspect something was wrong. I took the reading the CGM had 45 and the finger stick had 122. Something was defiantly wrong. A few minutes later I get a “CAL ERROR” message. So, the sensor is not working properly. I try starting a new sensor on the CGM followed very quickly by the BG NOW request followed by the “CAL ERROR” message. OK, I get it. This sensor didn’t work. I need to take it out and start over. This means that $12.00 has just been wasted. It is also later in the afternoon and I don’t want to be awake all night taking BG readings.

I decide to remove the sensor and use finger sticks tonight. The tape is difficult to get off, both the occlusive dressing and the sensor tape. I also notice a quarter size blue spot under the sensor. I didn’t bleed externally on the insertion, but I did bleed internally.

I put a new battery in the transmitter’s charger and set all of the CGM gear aside.

After all, I had to get ready for dinner to remember the big day, with the right woman and a great relationship over the past 28 years.

Walking Around

My last sensor has been attached for 6 days and so I need to take it out. On the flight to San Francisco, I had to shut down the sensor, to reduce my radio frequency emissions. I did this along with my cell phone and MP3 player right before take off. I turned the sensor and my cell phone on when we landed in San Francisco.

I am debating with myself. Should I put in a new sensor, or wait until I get home. I will be out walking around today and I fly back tomorrow. I will have to turn the sensor off when I fly. I am at a conference and there is not an easy place to stop and fiddle with my sensor or take BG readings on demand.

At my last visit to the Doctors, he suggested that I leave the sensor off and not use the CGM for a couple of days. This would reduce the number of sensors required in a month and save a few dollars. It would also give my insertion sites a few more days to heal.

The one item I forgot to pack was Alcohol wipes. I will need to find a drug store and pick some up if I am going to put in a sensor. I also need to pick up a bottle of sugar tablets, as I ran out last night. I have been walking quite a bit, which is driving my BG lower. I had two very mild hypoglycemic BGs yesterday. While I am in the drug store I can also pick up some Ibuprofen. My legs and feet are killing me from all of the walking I am doing. One more sign telling me I need to get into better shape. I really hate to spend the $2.00 on alcohol wipes, because I have 12 boxes in the closet at home.

My decision is to not put in a sensor. I will put my next sensor in on Thursday. I will stay with the finger sticks, before and after meals for Tuesday and Wednesday.

For the next few days I will not need to carry my CGM or Sensor. I will only need to carry my testing kit and syringes of Humalog and Humalin R, which I carry with me all the time anyway.

Traveling with a CGM

I grab my beat up small travel suitcase. I will only be gone for 3 days, so I don’t need to take to many clothes. The smaller case should get me through the next few days. My last travel was a few months ago, so I need to locate all my travel gear. Somehow it has gotten spread around the house. There are some items in the office and a few more in the bedroom. I found some items in the upstairs bathroom and the down stairs bathroom. How does this stuff get moved to all of these different places?

Three days so I need three of everything: socks, underwear, shirts, trousers, maybe an extra pair of jeans and a T-shirt. I grab my light leather jacket, I am headed to San Francisco and it could be cool this time of year. I have decided not to take a sport-coat, my jacket can double as a sport coat.

I need to evaluate my medical kit as I have added more items to carry with my CGM. I will need three packages of syringes. I also need three pen needles and I have to restock my sugar tablets. I pack 5 snack size Glucerna bars in my suitcase and a couple in my backpack. I have one day left on my Guardian sensor, so I had better pack two sensors, one for the replacement and an extra if the first one doesn’t work properly. I pack my Guardian user guide as reference material. I look at my Symilin and the vial is almost empty. I may get one more day, so I pull another vial out of the refrigerator. I have enough Humalin R and Humalog to get me through the week. I refill my weekly pill container with enough pills to get through the week. I had better grab the IV tape for the sensor. I opened a new bottle of test strips the other day and I have plenty of lancets. I think I have it all.

I grab a quart size bag and put my shaving cream, toothpaste and deodorant into the bag. This seems like a silly rule for airport security. I think the US is only country in the world, which requires this kind of Security Theater. I call it Theater as it doesn’t really serve any purpose other then to look good and make the traveler feel like something important is taking place when it is really not.

I need to update my Emergency card and add my CGM to the list. I also update my list of medications and print it is the smallest font on my printer. I fold it and stick it into the SOS medical necklace. I also grab the CGM medical card, which states I am carrying a medical device. I don’t know if the sensor will set off the security alarms, but I want to be ready, just in case it does.

I think I am ready, so I load my suitcase and backpack into the car and head to the airport. An hour later I have my ticket and I am standing in the security line. I hand the first TSA agent my ticket, my driver’s license and my medical card. I move to the next security line.

I unload my computer. I take off my shoes and jacket. I put my quart bag in a plastic tub with my shoes and jacket. I put my backpack and suitcase on the conveyer belt. I shuffle forward and make sure all of my items go into the scanning machine.

OK, now it is my turn to go through the metal detector. Will I set of the alarm? I have my

Medical CGM card in hand and ready to give to the security agent. I am ready for the alarm to go off. I get the hand motion to step through. One, two, three steps and I am clear of the metal detector. I get the hand motion to move on through.

Nothing happened. No alarms, no body searches. OK, then, time to move on and gather my stuff. I shove my compute back into my backpack. Slip on my shoes, put on my jacket and put my quart bag of liquids back into my suitcase.

I head down to the trains and out to the concourse to wait for my flight to take off.

Eating Out

I am going to a customer dinner. I am luck tonight, as I am the customer and dinner is being picked up by a software salesman. Well maybe I am not so lucky. I have to sit next to the software salesman, actually there are 3 of them, all night and listen to them tell me about how good their software is and what it can do for me. We will probably also talk about sports and families. If you can ask them the right question, they will spend more time talking about their family or favorite sports team, more then they talk about software.

This however is not my biggest challenge for the evening. My true challenge is to figure out how much Humalin R I need to take with dinner. I am not ordering my food tonight. The dinner menu has been established weeks before I show up. There are about 75 other customers at the meal tonight along with about 100 sales people.

We start out with a few drinks, wine, beer or mixed drinks. I stick with red wine as I know how my body reacts to it. This time lasts about an hour before we are asked to sit down for dinner.

Dinner will be served Family style, which is good; this will help me to decide how much I want to put on my plate. At first a salad is served. The restaurant food is called Asian Fusion cuisine. Ok what does this mean? I understand the Asian, but what kind of Fusion are they talking about?

Nuclear fusion is the process by which multiple atomic particles join together to form a heavier nucleus.

Music Fusion genre is a music genre which combines two or more genres.

Gene Fusion is a hybrid gene formed from two previously separate genes.

Fusion power refers to power generated by nuclear fusion reactions.

I found what I was looking for. Wikipedia is a great tool for definitions.

Fusion cuisine combines elements of various culinary traditions while not fitting specifically into any.

The first dish is a salad. Asian greens with a tangy vinegar dressing. Probably a 4 or 5 grams of sugar in the dressing. So I am looking at 1 unit of Humalin R.

Next came the Calamari, prepared in a wok, with some very spicy dipping sauce. The Calamari was covered in a batter, so I would guess there are a few carbs in the batter and a few more grams of sugar in the dipping sauce. Maybe two more units of Humaln R.

The main course is next, with Salmon, Beef and Chicken. The Beef and Chicken are sweet, so I would guess there are a few sugars there. The Salmon is very tasty and not sweet. Surprisingly there is not bread served or potatoes or rice. This helps on keeping the carbs down.

I skip on the desert and I end up with 5 units of Humalin R and my usual 10 units of Symilin. The challenge was not as bad as I had thought it could be. No control of what was coming to the table to eat, or when it would arrive. I timed my injection for the middle of dinner hoping that I would not go hypo before I could eat enough to offset the Humalin R. It all worked out this time. No hypos at dinner and 2 hours after dinner I check my BG and I was running at 114.

12 Week Check Up

It was time for my 12 week check-up. Last weekend I donated blood for the lab work. I logged on to the MedTronic CareLink web site. I uploaded my CGM and then I looked at the reports.

I had a weeks worth of data. The doctor wouldn’t have access to it, so I printed some daily reports and the overlay report.

When I arrive at the Doctor’s office I find out I have put on few pounds. I knew this, but it stings a little more when you have to share the information with the PA and the Dr.

Take my pulse, yes I still have one. My BP is 114/66.

Then we reviewed my medications:

Symilin, Humalog, Humulin R, Lantis, Thyroxin, Nexium, Lipitor, Lisinopril

All the same, plus the Asprin therapy and my allergy to penicillin has not gone away.

Time to review the lab results:

VLDL Cholesterol is good

HDL Cholesterol is good

LDL Cholesterol is good

Triglycerides are good

Hemoglobin A1c is 7% last time it was 6.7% Not so good. I wanted a better A1c score.

Why has your A1c gone up? The Doctor asks. Well you see I haven’t been exercising like I should. I change jobs, I am working longer hours. My routine has changed and I haven’t yet figured out a new routine. I stubbed my little toe. I have a lot of things on my mind and I forget about exercising. I have a boat load of excuses. To bad I can’t lower my A1c percentage by rattling off excuses.

How do you like the CGM he asks? I love it! I look at it several times a day. I am even looking at it in the middle of the night. Those stupid alarms keep waking me up.

Hey! Wake up, you BG is low.

Hey! Wake up, I have a weak signal.

Hey! Wake up, I didn’t really want any thing other then to see if you would look at me. he he he I hear the CGM laughing in the back ground.

Let us take a look at those charts from CareLink. Humm, Oh, Humm, the Doctor said. I see you have a post breakfast BG high. Oh and there is another one after lunch. You seem to be doing alright after dinner and for your early morning BG.

So how do you calculate your insulin correction factor before a meal? He asks. I uh, well I uh start counting at 140 then I add 50 and for every 50 I have over the 140, then I add 1 more unit of insulin. But wait, I don’t do that at meal time. I only do that between meals.

It seems I don’t really have a Meal Time Correction process. And, I don’t really have a Between Meal Correction process. Try this said the Doctor.

((FS -100) / 30) / 2 = Between Meal Correction

And

(FS - 100) / 30 = Meal Time Correction

For example: I am between lunch and dinner. Oh and substitute FS for BG in the formulas above. My BG is 220. Plug it into the formula: 220 - 100 =120. 120 / 30 = 4. 4 / 2 = 2. So I would do 2 units of Humalog to bring my BG into normal the normal range.

Another example: Before dinner my BG is 250. Plug it into the formula: 250 – 100 = 150. 150 / 30 = 5. I plan on eating 45 carbs for dinner, which means I would use 6 units of Humulin R more the meal, then I would add 5 units of Humulin R for the correction for a total insulin amount of 6 + 5 = 11 for the meal.

Now I have a Between Meal and a Meal Time correction strategy. Keep an eye on the reports and see if the strategy works. Plus hit the exercise routine and bring down that A1c.

New Technology

I really don’t like to wear things clipped to my belt. I am reaching the point of having a Batman utility belt, from when I was twelve, strapped around my waist. Unfortunately, my waist is not the same size as it was when I was twelve and I find it very uncomfortable wearing technology clipped to my belt.

I am declaring that my belt is full. I don’t want any more technology wrapped around my waist.

I carry a Blackberry phone and now I carry my CGM which is two too many things clipped to my belt.

Wouldn’t it be nice to download the CGM software to my Blackberry and to let the Blackberry read the sensor! While I am dreaming, wouldn’t it be nice to have the Blackberry log in to the web and report the CGM readings to the MiniMed web site?

You know I have a microchip imbedded in the shoulder blades of my dog. It would really be nice if I could have a microchip between my shoulders. Let the microchip be the sensor and measure my BG. Maybe, it could also track my heart rate, my blood pressure, my cholesterol, my A1C, and my thyroid levels. I can have my labs done without getting a needle stick.

The information could then be sent to my Blackberry and uploaded to the web, both MedTronics, and all of my Doctors.

I would even have to go in for a visit anymore. The Doctor can send me an e-mail and tell me I need to improve my A1C by 20%. My Boss is already asking me to improve my work by 20%, weekly, and we haven’t talked to each other or seen each other for months.

The chip can track my exercise. How high does my heart rate increase and for how long? Then, I can get the e-mail from the Doctor, to add 15 more minutes to my daily exercise routine. Actually it would be more like; aren’t you going to exercise this week? This is beginning to sounds more like my Wife then my Doctor. But, then two T3s asking the same question might just make an impact on me. In fact the Doctor can e-mail my Wife at the same time as me, so she would also tell me to get my butt in gear.

My blackberry becomes my crackberry or peaberry, but then it becomes my medberry or lifeberry.

And now, I am back to wearing only one item on my belt. That item is my phone and it does e-mail, instant messaging, Web Browsing, Calendar, to do list, Medical reporter and Medical supporter. Oh, and it is also a camera, video camera, radio and an MP3 player.

Now, if it could only turn into a motorcycle. Life would be grand!

Beep Beep Beep

My current sensor and transmitter location is on the right side of my mid-section. My last sensor and transmitter was on the left side. Location, location, location. It had a big impact the amount of sleep I managed to get last night.

I found out, that I like to sleep on my stomach. I knew sort of knew this, but what I didn’t realize is that I tend to lie at an angle with my right side down and my left side slightly elevated.

Why is this important you are asking? Maybe you are not asking, but I would like to think that you are. So, Let me explain……..

Beep, Beep, Beep. My low BG alarm is going off. What time is it? I was sleeping so well. It is only 11:30PM. I have only been asleep for an hour. Let me check it, I can’t be low this early in the night. My CGM BG is measuring 70. My finger stick BG is measuring 103. I enter this into the CGM and then head back to bed.

Beep, Beep, Beep. What is it now? What time is it? I am getting a “weak signal” alarm from the CGM and it is 12:30AM. I managed to sleep for 45 minutes between alarms. I move the CGM from the bed side table and I clip it to the bed headboard. This is about a foot closer to me and more importantly closer to my right side. It is now directly above my head and not on the left side of my body. Now that I am thinking about this during the day light hours, I am amazed that I was able to come up with this solution in a manner of minutes while being half asleep. I then drift back to sleep.

Beep, Beep, Beep. What now? Another weak signal alarm! I don’t really care what time it is. I grab the CGM and put sit it beside me in bed. I clear the alarm and go back to sleep.

Beep, Beep, Beep. The alarm clock is now going off. I hit the snooze button.

9 minutes later. Beep, Beep, Beep. The alarm clock again. Why is it 9 minutes and not 10 minutes? A question to explore at another time. I sit up and pick up my CGM. I stumble into the bathroom and turn on the light. I look at the CGM to see what my BG is. To my surprise I see that I have no signal. I must have slept through the lost signal alarm. I click on the Sensor function and select “Find lost Sensor” function and stick the CGM in my robe and head to the coffee pot. The CGM should find the sensor without me interfering. I make a cup of coffee, turn on the TV to check the weather.

Beep, Beep, Beep. I have an “enter meter BG soon” alarm. It is 6:21AM. I get my med kit and pull out the Freestyle Flash BG meter, stick my finger, enter the BG of 236 into the CGM. Wow, is that high! I then grab my fast acting Humalog pen and inject 3 units to get my BG down.

I check my BG at 8:25 to see where I am and to also check the delta between Finger stick and CGM. The CGM is reading 144 and the Finger stick is 124. Looks like things are running normally.

Ring, Ring, Ring. Now the phone and the work day starts.

Sensor number 2

It is time for a new sensor. This is only the second sensor I will have used. My first sensor was doing such a good job and I didn’t see any irritation around the site, so I decided to leave it in for a few more days.

When it came time to change the sensor, I simply pushed the “started a new sensor” function on the CGM and off it went. I didn’t have to take the old sensor out or put a new sensor in.

But today, I have to take out the old one. It was within a few hours of being 6 days old. It has to be changed. So I started the process.

Remove the tape. I picked and picked and picked and picked at the tape. Pull a little bit and finally the outside tape covering the transmitter and the sensor came off.

Slide the transmitter out and stick it in the charger.

Pick at the sensor tape. Pick, pick, pick, pick, pick. Let me find the tweezers. Pick, pick, pick, pick and finally the tape is lose. I slide the sensor out and I am done with the removal process.

OK, I shave a little hair at the new sensor site and take a quick shower.

Load the sensor into the Injector. Remove the tape cover and remove the needle cover. Grit my teeth, take a deep breath, curl my toes and push the button. I am pushing the button and nothing is happening. OK, Breath. Remember to Breath. I am sweating again with anticipation of pain and agony when the needle is injected. I just know it is going to hurt. Worse then having a toe cut off or worse then bonking your head on a sharp pointy object.

Start over. Try to relax, I can’t. I grit my teeth, take a deep breath, curl my toes and push the button. Push a little harder. Push a little harder, and then swoosh, the sensor is in. No pain. It is all in my head. What a mind trip I am playing on myself. To much stress I am inflicting from my own thoughts. I will have to work on this. Mind over matter or maybe Mind over anticipation.

I remove the needle and wait for 5 minutes. I slide in the transmitter and push the “Start new sensor” function on the CGM. I have a signal and I am done. No wait. I have to apply the tape. I add the tape over the transmitter and the sensor. Now I am done.

I would like to remove the glue from the old tape. My shirt is going to stick to my belly all day if I don’t remove it. I use an alcohol wipe only to find out it doesn’t work. My wife finds the finger nail polish remover. It does not have any acetone in it. She finds another bottle with acetone. How many bottle of polish remover do we have? I live in a house of Women; I shouldn’t ask questions like that.

I am told we need another one for me to remove my tape glue. Oh boy, my own bottle of finger nail polish remover. This way I won’t use any of their finger nail polish remover. I can hardly wait. Another bottle to cram into my already over flowing medicine cabinet. Anyway the finger nail polish remover does not do a very good job of removing the tape glue. I will need to stop at the hardware store and look for something stronger. I had better check with MedTronic to make sure I don’t get anything that will eat away my transmitter or my skin.

A few hours later, I am working away and waiting for my two hours to expire, so I can do a BG and I notice the CGM has a weak signal. I have to pull the tape back from the sensor and unplug the transmitter from the sensor and then reconnect it. I now have a strong signal. Now the tape. I am trying to put it back the way it was. The tape is sticking to itself and me and every place else I don’t want it to. There, good enough. I will need to put a new piece of tape on when I get home, but I can make it through the day.

DDS

I am going to the Dentist after an already long day at work. I step through the doorway and sign my name on the sheet. I sit down and start to read a magazine.

Dan, my name is called. Before I have a chance to stand up and set the magazine down, my name is called a second time. Dan, oh there you are the assistant states. I look around there is only me and one other guy in the waiting room. You wouldn’t think it would be hard to see me in the crowded waiting room.

Is this attention to detail a sign of things to come?

I am told that I am having a few cavities filled. I know this, as I made the appointment at my last cleaning, just a few weeks ago. I sit down in the chair and await the Dentist’s arrival. Hi Dan, I hear from behind me. We shake hands an again it is explained to me that we are doing three cavities. One in the upper left and two in the lower right.

Ok, now I know there are two injections coming. A small amount of topical analgesic is applied. A flavor that is slightly tangy with a hint of Lysol spray.

We wait for a few minutes and then the needle comes out. We should do the upper left first, says the Dentist. Ok, by me. I just want to get it over with. Open wide. A slight pinch not to bad I am thinking. Ready for the next one?

Open wide. A slight pinch, and then the pain starts. I push my head back into the chair. My body stiffens. I feel a knife blade slicing the right edge of my tongue. I arch my back and I stiffen even more. The blood rushes to my head, in the distant I hear; we are almost done. Just a little more, try to relax, he said. I hear the blood pounding, I feel the knifes edge. I have a shooting pain going down my throat and into my right arm. I am trying to breathe and relax. The needle starts to come out I can see his hand moving away from my mouth. The pain stops and my body went limp in the chair. I am sweating and the pounding is subsiding. The Dentist is explaining to me how close he is to a bundle of nerves, and how the needle can brush that bundle of nerves. That is where the pain comes from. What about the knife edge I think. My tongue is already numb. I can’t talk, so sit back and get ready for the rest of the afternoon activities.

The drilling starts and finishes. The cavities are filled and I am out the door headed home. My head hurts, my jaws hurt and half of my mouth is numb.

I decide to lie down and take a nap when I get home. I am gong to try and take better care of my teeth, so I don’t have to go through this again.

Up and Down

I have been on the Guardian for two days. It is not painful attached to my belly. I can sleep as I normally do. On my side or on my stomach. During the first night I had a Low alarm go off at 2:30 AM. The second night I had a High alarm at 1:30 AM. I did 4 units of Humalog to bring my glucose down. The high was due to the Halloween candy I ate right before bed. Looks like I will have to stop eating candy before bed.

At 6:15 AM another alarm went off. I was low, showing a BG of 70 on the CGM and my finger stick was a BG of 50. I was partially awake, I wanted to sleep in after the interrupted sleep, but I couldn’t, so rolled out of bed ate 3 sugar tabs to get my glucose level up. It took about 15 minutes for me to feel better, but it took half an hour for the CGM to rise above the lower boundary. Back on track I had my coffee and settled in to work.

Today’s activities, I have only phone call meetings with a Dentist appointment thrown in this afternoon. Seems I have two small areas that are beginning to turn into cavities. Oh boy; A few more injections today.

I still feel a little slow after a low hits me. It will get better as the day goes along.