When Things Fall Apart

Blood Sugar: 182

Ok, so it didn't fall apart, we disassembled it. This is the interior of my pod. Who knew that you could fit all that stuff in the little thing I wear on my body that keeps me ticking? I think this is really an amazing piece of work. I guess this is my moment at 'art'! LOL I think the inner-workings of my pod is very symbolic of life with diabetes. It's a culmination of a million little things that make diabetes doable...livable. Every spring,screw, and piece of plastic has a purpose to fulfill in keeping me going...just like every blood test and every carb I count has a purpose to fulfill. Interesting, that something so complicated and intricate comess in a small plastic dome that I wear. Who knew?

Disolve it all

Blood Sugar: 151

I have very sensitive skin. Not a big deal usually. I use lotion and try to keep up with how dry my skin can get from the weather or from the diabetes. So my pods have an adhesive circular pad on them that keep them where I put them. I rotate the sites that I use in an effort to assist in insulin absorption over time. So two spots that I rotate to are on either side of my stomach. Well, the first time I tried to remove a pod from there it left these horrendouse welts on my poor sensitive tummy. They were sore and they itched and it was miserable. The next time I decided to be more careful and I peeled it back and it was pulling my skin off. I was miserable. As usual, when I have a question I hit the net and started asking different discussion groups and other pumpers if they had this same problem and if so, what could I do? I was introduced to this laundry aid. It's not perfect, but it is SO much better than yanking the pod off my tummy. It has a nice citrus scent that isn't overly citrusy...it's not a chemical smell. It doesn't dry my skin out. I do still get a bit of a welt, but that's just my sensitivity to the adhesive---the welt is no longer as big as the pod! But the downside...the goo!!! That adhesive turns into the stickiest goo. My granddaughter saw me trying to clean it off my belly one night and said, "Mamaw, you got boogers?" It was extremely funny...but unfortunately very accurate. So that's my story. Sorry it took so long to get back in the blog groove. I have a couple blogs geared up, but I'm not quite finished writing. I hope you stay tuned...

Self-Admitted Over-Packer

Blood sugar: 192

I am an over-packer. It doesn't matter what I'm packing for, I over-pack. If it's a weekend trip, I need a bag full of clothes and shoes, a bag full of stuff to do in case I might get bored, a bag for my toiletries and my over-packed insulin case. I pack an arsenal of diabetes supplies everyday. I have a system. There is a method to my madness. But on an average day, I could take care of several diabetics in a pinch and still have plenty for me. I think I have the cutest bag (picked up from the cosmetic section at Target, photo) and I have it packed so that I know exactly what I have and what I need at a moment's notice. My husband knows that if he has to save one thing from the house, make sure I have this bag! I usually pack my bag when it's time for me to change my pod. My pod lasts for three days, so I have more than enough stuff to care for myself for three days. I assume that I take 10 blood tests a day, I don't usually, but if I felt the need I want the supplies. So this is what I pack: OmniPod PDM, bottle of insulin, (3) syringes, two extra batteries, a syringe injector, (30) alcohol swabs, OneTouch Ultra Mini meter, lancing device, glucagon kit, 3 extra pods, (30) cotton balls, (30) lancets, testing strips, a zippered pouch for trash and a BioFlip, from www.stickmedesigns.com, for lancets and/or other needle trash. Is this overkill? Some think so. But my reasoning is that fear is not your friend. I think it's better to have what I MIGHT need than to not have what I DO need. So what do you pack with you everyday? I know many people have found themselves in quite the predicament at times...as have I, if you can believe it! I also know that there are a lot of diabetics out there that don't change the lancet every time or use an alcohol swab...but I do because I feel like it's better safe than sorry...am I thinking ahead and being prepared or am I over doing it?