Thursday, October 31, 2013

Halloween Knight

Glucolift glucose tabs are running their annual Gluc-or-Treat campaign. They say they'll take all Halloween-related photo entries, even mentioning that you can put your supplies in costume.  What do you get for sharing a pic?  You get a goodie bag of Glucolift treats!  You know how much I love free stuff.  It's a slow day today, so I may have fashioned some things out of office supplies...and so I bring you:

THE ADVENTURES OF SIR NOV O'LOG!

Sir Nov o'Log's blue circle helmet offers him protection.  He comes from the kingdom of Bantingbest, in the chilly north.

Sir Nov o'Log versus the Monster of Unknown Carb Count!  Can he use his wit and experience to solve the Monster's carbohydrate riddle, or will this end in certain disaster for our hero?

(I'm not going to lie.  Sometimes this is how the battle seems to turn out.  VICTORY FOR FRUITOPIA!  Better try swapping out that infusion set, Princess Tandem.  Take a correction via syringe or pen while you're at it.)

Sir Nov o'Log has vanquished his carb-y foe!  The Monster of Unknown Carb Count is slain, and Hannah's BG will not be awful after all.  Thanks for saving this fair maiden, brave knight.


Always keep Sir Nov o'Log, Sir Hum o'Log and their noble steeds Lantus and Levemir at the ready to battle those diabetes dragons.  (Note: Sir Regular and the other knights of the Insulin Table are less outspoken, but still handy.)

Happy Halloween, everyone!  Remember trick or treating is just as fun for kids with diabetes, and the whole point of Halloween is costumes and fun.  Enjoy!  

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

To The D-Mom I Just Saw in a Comment Thread...

Her name was Donna, and she said that her son is on multiple daily injections rather than an insulin pump, because that is what works best for him, and doing something new would possibly compromise his quality of life.  Good for you, Donna!  You and your son are working with what's good for you, and I think that's the best way to do things.

She did say one thing, however, that I found a bit distressing.  She said it is tough for them to admit within the DOC that they are on MDI, because they are "looked down on" and people treat them as though they "are not up to snuff".

I don't have any children of my own, but being a member of this online community since 2006, this is where I put my concerned-parent face on.  My dear Diabetes Online Community, I am not speaking to any of you as individuals, because I don't know who the culprits are, but I swear we have been over this before.  My friend Bennet Dunlap has a phrase for this: YDMV: Your Diabetes May Vary.  Everyone is entitled to their own opinions, but if someone isn't looking for advice, if someone's treatment plan is working just fine for them, then leave them to it.

Straight up, no-bones-about-it, my insulin requirement is high.  I am jealous when someone bemoans their huge 10 unit meal bolus.  Part of the reason I chose the pump I'm using now (the Tandem t:slim) is because it will remind me to deliver the remainder of a bolus that is over the allowable maximum.  I have had some clicking of tongues and shocked looks when I tell people my total daily dose, and I don't appreciate those any more than Donna appreciates judgement of her son's injections over pumping.

Look, DOC.  I believe in kindness and understanding, and I like to believe in the best in people.  I want to believe everyone is kind, flexible, and intelligent enough to know that what works for me may not even be remotely close to what works for you.  Here's the thing--that is totally okay.

Remember, very few of us are medical professionals, and even so, most of our blogs are no substitute for medical advice you can get from your doctor, nurse, or diabetes educator.

So to Donna, you keep doing what you're doing.  To everyone out there, keep doing what works for you.  And to the naysayers out there, remember, we are not all the same.  Be sensitive, especially if you're going around making assumptions.  The DOC isn't all about sunshine and rainbows and unicorns, but we can all try our best to not make others feel so excluded that they don't want to speak their minds.

End concerned female senior member of the DOC rant.