If You Give a Toddler a Cookie
...he'll want some milk with that (just pretend it's milk,ok?) Afterwords, you'll clean up the kitchen floor... And he will want to be entertained. After reading all the books in the house, you will go to ToysRUs... And buy a red wagon.Which he will want to ride in. (after Daddy puts it together) The ride will drop your blood sugar, and this will be your post-breakfast spike.(on waffles) Not that I'm complaining. After that, it will be time to feed yourself cookies (and diet coke) to prevent going low. Your toddler will want more milk (and possibly cookies). (better choice: lunch) Repea...
Source: The D-Log Cabin - July 4, 2013 Category: Diabetes Authors: HVS Source Type: blogs
Summa Time
Most years involve some sort of surgery/body organ failure. (It's just how I roll, apparently) In 2012 it was my thyroid(6 months post C-Section). Nothing in 2011. In 2010, it was ulnar nerve surgery on my left arm,& the year before that I think was the Tonsillectomy. And the year before that I had an intestinal intussesseption & spent the later part of the year A.twice in the hospital and B.getting magnesium 2-3x a week.So it comes as no surprise to me that something else has popped up. I've had lower right abdominal pain issues for a month...and my doc sent me in for a CT scan with contrast die. The results of that were ...
Source: The D-Log Cabin - June 26, 2013 Category: Diabetes Authors: HVS Source Type: blogs
A Bucket List
Here's a few of the things I'd love to see happen in this life of mine... 1. Win the lottery. (oh, wait, that will never happen? well, a girl can dream. If I won the lottery, I'd set up a foundation for D-peeps to get needed supplies(test strips,insulin, glucagon, syringes, type 2 meds, etc.) I'd also take a longgggg trip around the world & perhaps buy a yacht to live on for the rest of our days) And I'd help my parents, sibs,family, and friends out. (financially) 2. Go to an Olympics. (opening ceremonies through closing ceremonies) I imagine that is pretty cool. 3. Finish the RN degree, finish the bachelors, finish the Ma...
Source: The D-Log Cabin - June 23, 2013 Category: Diabetes Authors: HVS Source Type: blogs
Random Bits of Double Up Arrows
Technology woes: I has them. On several fronts. You know how most of the US is finallllllly getting to transition to the new Omnipods? (after being promised this since like, February. I'm not kidding.) Well, I'd estimate that 95% of my podding friends already have theirs. Strange silence for me, still. I have been ordering pods on a month-to-month basis because I didn't want to get stuck with 3 months worth of old pods that don't work with the new system. I get them directly from Insulet. Rumor has it that on the next "reorder" they will send you the new system/pods. I have not ordered in the traditional manner,& have some...
Source: The D-Log Cabin - June 19, 2013 Category: Diabetes Authors: HVS Source Type: blogs
My Sugr: A Diabetes App Review
Several weeks ago, I got the chance to try out the My Sugr app (for a comprehensive review, you can read Scott's over at Scott's Diabetes) . Anyway, I'm fairly certain that the entire DOC knows about it at this point but these are just a few of my thoughts. The basic version is free, & that's currently what I'm using. (no one payed me for review of this app, all thoughts are my own) Coming into this, I wasn't sure what to expect..diabetes apps seem to be a dime a dozen & none of them have really changed how I feel about logging.( HATE IT) I've always found paper logs to be more helpful then current apps.(at least, my Endo'...
Source: The D-Log Cabin - June 14, 2013 Category: Diabetes Authors: HVS Source Type: blogs
A Hitchhikers Guide to the Universe: Friends for Life '13
It's coming.Friend-for-life-itis: an uncharacteristic phenemena experienced by a person with diabetes, family member, or a health care professional most usually in the weeks leading up to the event. May exhibit behaviours such as excessive list making, packing, checking the weather in Orlando, searching for the same such hash tags on Twitter, and squealing in excitement when anyone whenever someone posts to the Facebook page. Does not entirely dissipate upon completion of the event,but can be managed via upon seeing pictures, reminiscing, etc.This summer, my mother in law will be coming to visit. For three weeks. I expect ...
Source: The D-Log Cabin - June 7, 2013 Category: Diabetes Authors: HVS Source Type: blogs
The Friday Appy Hour: Savings
If you own an Apple Device, this post is for you. I do indeed love my IBabies(not as much as the human baby, but still, a lot). And I love to A. Shop and B. Save money...so the following apps make my life just a bit easier in that regard. #1 Cardstar. This app takes the numbers on your loyalty card(CVS, Office Depot, library, whatever) and converts it to barcode form. The days of forgetting your card or carrying around 50 cards stuffed in your wallet are over...this is the 21st century, people. You simply whip out your phone,they scan the barcode,& you are on your merry way. Its also not dependent on Internet or wifi so yo...
Source: The D-Log Cabin - May 24, 2013 Category: Diabetes Authors: HVS Source Type: blogs
Day 6: Diabetes Art (#Dblog Week)
This year Diabetes Art moves up from the Wildcard choices as we all channel our creativity with art in the broadest sense. Do some “traditional” art like drawing, painting, collage or any other craft you enjoy. Or look to the literary arts and perhaps write a d-poem or share and discuss a favorite quote. Groove to some musical arts by sharing a song that inspires you diabetes-wise, reworking some song lyrics with a d-twist, or even writing your own song. Don’t forget dramatic arts too, perhaps you can create a diabetes reality show or play. These are just a starting point today – there are no right or wrong ways to...
Source: The D-Log Cabin - May 18, 2013 Category: Diabetes Authors: HVS Source Type: blogs
Day 5: The Other Medical Condition
Just like in the movie, today we’re doing a swap. If you could switch chronic diseases, which one would you choose to deal with instead of diabetes? And while we’re considering other chronic conditions, do you think your participation in the DOC has affected how you treat friends and acquaintances with other medical conditions? (Thanks to Jane of Jane K. Dickinson, RN, PhD, CDE and Bob of T Minus Two for this topic suggestion.) I was going to write an entirely different post then the one I'm writing today. But this morning, I checked my facebook,checking on a friend that I haven't talked to in some time...and the condo...
Source: The D-Log Cabin - May 17, 2013 Category: Diabetes Authors: HVS Source Type: blogs
Day 3: Accomplishments, Large and Small
We don’t always realize it, but each one of us had come a long way since diabetes first came into our life. It doesn’t matter if it’s been 5 weeks, 5 years or 50 years, you’ve done something outstanding diabetes-wise. So today let’s share the greatest accomplishment you've made in terms of dealing with your (or your loved one’s) diabetes. No accomplishment is too big or too small - think about self-acceptance, something you’ve mastered (pump / exercise / diet / etc.), making a tough care decision (finding a new endo or support group / choosing to use or not use a technology / etc.). (Thanks to Hillary of Rain...
Source: The D-Log Cabin - May 16, 2013 Category: Diabetes Authors: HVS Source Type: blogs
Memories: The Day the World Went White
Today we’re going to share our most memorable diabetes day. You can take this anywhere.... your or your loved one's diagnosis, a bad low, a bad high, a big success, any day that you’d like to share. (Thanks to Jasmine of Silver-Lined for this topic suggestion.) It was May 1999, (it always seems to be May when such things happen, but I digress) and I'd just been diagnosed with diabetes 5 months prior. I'd worn glasses for nearsightedness for much of my life, and coupled with the diabetes diagnoses my vision was on a rollarcoaster. After diagnoses, however, things improved, went back to normal. One month after diagnoses,...
Source: The D-Log Cabin - May 15, 2013 Category: Diabetes Authors: HVS Source Type: blogs
Day 2: We, the Undersigned
Recently various petitions have been circulating the Diabetes Online Community, so today let’s pretend to write our own. Tell us who you would write the petition to – a person, an organization, even an object (animate or inanimate) - get creative!! What are you trying to change and what have you experienced that makes you want this change? (Thanks to Briley of inDpendence for this topic suggestion.) We, the fathers/mothers/sisters/brothers/wives/husbands/aunts/uncles/grandparents/grandchildren/caregivers/friends of the Diabetes Online Community, are writing to you, yes, YOU.(oh clueless, blissfully ignorant, person)Ou...
Source: The D-Log Cabin - May 14, 2013 Category: Diabetes Authors: HVS Source Type: blogs
To Endo, With Love
Often our health care team only sees us for about 15 minutes several times a year, and they might not have a sense of what our lives are really like. Today, let’s pretend our medical team is reading our blogs. What do you wish they could see about your and/or your loved one's daily life with diabetes? On the other hand, what do you hope they don't see? (Thanks to Melissa Lee of Sweetly Voiced for this topic suggestion.)Dear Endo, I wish you'd say "Good Job." I know my a1c isn't 5.9 (nor will it ever be) and I'm not a lean, mean, marathon-running machine, (I wish that I were) but I get up every morning and try to do my ...
Source: The D-Log Cabin - May 13, 2013 Category: Diabetes Authors: HVS Source Type: blogs
Over a Kansas Rainbow
I love Kansas, I really do. And there's a kind of tenacious toughness to the Midwesterners that's really quite admirable. But... I don't love being in the middle of nowhere with no cell service,no phone service,& the nearest "help" one mile away. Heck,even the walkie talkies don't work. At night, the wolves howl their symphonies & you really try not to worry about what the heck you'd do if a wild animal burst into the cabin(stab them with the glucagon needle?) or if the tornado siren went off. To say nothing of having a diabetes emergency(nearest hospital: 25 miles away) or an emergency of some other kind. I was not cut ou...
Source: The D-Log Cabin - April 30, 2013 Category: Diabetes Authors: HVS Source Type: blogs
15 Months
This is my angelic child. He is (now)15.5 months old, bright, funny, cheerful. He loves reading books & splashing in the bathtub. He has a short fuse & his yet primary way of communication(for anything) is yelling at the top of his lungs. And for the most part, he's healthy.(seasonal allergies notwithstanding) But... He isn't walking yet. He'll pull himself around all over everything in Creation, but has no interest in taking independent steps. (when forced to do so, he does the stop,drop, and laugh at Mommy) Otherwise, if he wants to get something that can't be gotten via holding on, he will crawl.(he can crawl faster the...
Source: The D-Log Cabin - April 27, 2013 Category: Diabetes Authors: HVS Source Type: blogs
