Give Thanks, ya'll.

I'm thankful for...

--Health Insurance. No matter how many months I'll have to dish out that hefty COBRA payment, in the long run, I know I'm saving money on test strips, insulin, pump supplies and a whole cabinet full of pills. It's a crappy industry which I believe is badly in need of reform, but thankfully it helps some of us.

--My husband. This man does it all. He writes poetry, builds robots, studies hard, cooks, plays guitar, and gives the world's best footrubs. He will also get out of bed in the middle of the night to get me my testing kit, and then either a glass of water (for highs) or a glass of juice (for lows).

--Artificial sweeteners. Last week I bought sugar-free chocolate syrup at the grocery store. Everywhere I go these days, I keep seeing the kinds of products I used to dream of when I was a kid. Hershey's sugar-free candy. Frappucinos with Splenda. Low-carb Slim Fast, since I have been skipping breakfast lately. I know that everything I eat doesn't NEED to be sugar-free, but more choices are always good, and anything that keeps the "diabetes police" (aka my relatives) off my back while tasting delicious is always appreciated.

--Seeing a low blood sugar not once or twice, but three times in the past couple of weeks. I know it's not fun, but when you haven't seen a double-digit blood sugar in months, and you're just starting again on Metformin, this feels like relief might be in sight.

--Nurse practitioners. My favorite NP's name is Nancy. She's an outgoing, boisterous lady who I feel completely comfortable talking to. She's the first person in a while who seems to be taking a comprehensive look at what's raising my blood sugars. (Such as maybe PCOS, depression, maybe even my liver? Is that what she could be testing my liver enzymes for? I get that done with next week's bloodwork...)

--My insulin pump. It's like they invented it with holidays in mind. Sleep in? No problem. Too much stuffing and mashed potatoes? There's a bolus for that. Oh, and now you're bringing out the pie? Bolus again. Turkey-induced-super-tyrptophan naptime? It's got me covered. Woo!

--The OC. I'm not talking about Rachel Bilson. I'm talking about you out there. You gave me a reason to start all this, and you're giving me a reason to keep it up. I think I'm learning more about myself that I thought imaginable, and I already keep another online journal! Good work!


I hope everybody has a safe and happy Thanksgiving. Matt and I will be making the nearly 4-hour drive to Pennsylvania today. This year, at one of the four family gatherings we'll attend, I won't be the only diabetic. Matt's mom's boyfriend has it, too. Type 1 or 2? I don't know, but you know your husband's mom is dating a diabetic when you open her fridge to get a soda and you see Novo-Pens and a vial of Lantus.

Love and low-sugar pies to you and yours!