Just an update.

It's been a while, and I figured I should update those of you out there in blogland. So where was I?

Life without Symlin is so much better. I can actually function after eating a meal! I don't need to carry around that pesky vial or syringes. Only 7 injections in a day instead of 10, not great but I'll take it for now. I'm still really struggling with getting my numbers in range in the evening (8pm-12am). I become so insulin resistant, even the most aggressive corrections do absolutely nothing. I have tried more insulin at dinner, more insulin in between dinner and bedtime, more at bedtime, and sometimes all of those things combined. NOTHING WORKS!

My quest to pump still continues. I have gotten the information packets from each company. Read them all cover to cover, and have been in contact with the different reps. And I changed my mind. I really thought the OmniPod was for me. But I can not stand the fact that my mom has called them, I have emailed, and the response has not been efficent. They only returned one email, and no phone calls. Plus I have changed my mind about tubing, I can do it. It doesn't freak me out any more, after tons of research. Cozmore isn't really for me either, their email response was not very friendly. It was more like our pump costs this much, it does this, pick us. Plus I don't think I would use alot of the features they offer. Minimed, never emailed me back. I don't care about CGMS. So then that leaves Animas, the one that was my second choice to OmniPod. I love their customer service. Heather the representative I was assigned, is amazingly nice, prompt, and doesn't make the emails all about business & making money. I feel like she could be someone I actually know. Plus I love the way the Animas looks, functions, and its waterproof (like the Cozmo and OmniPod) a big selling point since we have a pool, plus it's covered by our insurance 100% after approval. (All of the opinions above are my personal experience and are not ment to influence anyone else's opinions about these companies.)

So after all this research and communication. I decided I should email the infamous Endo, for a little opinion. So I sent him an update on my stopping the Symlin, logging and testing like a maniac, pump research, the night time insulin resistance, and what I believe is the Dawn Phenomenon. I only sent it this morning so we will see what happens.

Happy Weekend Everyone!

5 S's

Software
Recently I started using SugarStats to see if it would help me document the trends I see in my readings. I do not have the software for my Ultra Smart, so I needed something else to create graphs and logs. I would have to say that I am not satisfied with SugarStats. I can see how it is helpful for some, but I didn’t feel like the graphs were detailed enough, and I also hate how you have to enter meds and readings separately. It took FOREVER! So I went to trusty Google and found something better GlucoseOne. It has the graphs I wanted, individual days showing the ups and downs I see daily not just averages. You can enter meds and readings at the same time. I love it!!

Sprained
I sprained my ankle while helping my sister move into her 3rd floor apartment on Wednesday. My blood sugar was low, but being stubborn I was still trying to help. So somewhere walking down the steep and narrow stairs, my ankle twisted in and whalah sprained ankle. If my blood sugar hadn’t have been low I would have had better reaction time and coordination. Stubborn should be another a “S” in this post. Now to one of the things that could have caused this low.

Symlin
So Thursday evening I decided to stop using Symlin, for a few reasons. Mainly the fact that I was having excruciating headaches. I know they were Symlin related headaches because when I would skip a dose the headaches didn’t happen. Before taking Symlin I would rarely get headaches, and Symlin is the only thing that has changed. Plus, the headaches happened just as I would be mid way through any meal that I took Symlin before. This is the scenario: I would test for my before meal number inject my Novolog, inject the Symlin, go eat, and about halfway through my head would be throbbing, and I would become so nauseated that I could never complete a meal. Then for 2 hours after all I could do was sit with my eyes closed. Now this wasn’t really happening when I started, and when it was it wasn’t this bad. It wasn’t like a migraine, it was just a little nausea and a slight twinge in my head. But now its horrible, plus I don’t really know if my improved numbers were just Symlin, or Symlin combined with my new found dedication to Diabetor. Which leads me to the next “S”….

Settling
I think before I started taking the Symlin I was settling. Just taking whatever my doctor said, following that and not trying to make anything better on my own. Tweaking has become my new hobby, carb ratios, correction factors, timing, testing. I think that if I hadn’t started with the postprandial blood sugar checks, constant note taking and correcting. I would not have seen success. I do not doubt that Symlin as a drug actually helped me, but I think it actually motivated me to gain more control overall. And since stopping, I have actually had the same or better numbers (weird I know), by just using the things I learned while on it.

School
I think I mentioned in another post that I was beginning the process of home schooling myself, using a self directed program. So as of a few weeks ago I became and official student of Keystone National High School. I have been having a lot of trouble with motivation and my mom is stressing this fact. I think it has a lot to do with the fact, that this step solidifies that I will not be returning to my high school. It’s not the actual school, seeing as I had a horrible time there and they did not cooperate with the many health issues (anxiety, depression, and Diabetor) that prevented me from being the best student I know that I can be. It’s that this distances me from my friends, and being a person with anxiety it’s already really hard to get myself to a place where hanging out with people is actually fun and not overwhelming. I just feel like it will cause my friends to grow away from me, because I won’t be participating in a huge part of their lives anymore. I guess time will only tell. And for another "S".

Sayônara!

Long Weekend.

So after a weekend of relatives, Harry Potter hooplah, and crazy blood sugars all is back to normal.

Spending time with my little cousins was fun as always. The youngest who is just one just started walking last week so she was showing everyone her skills. Her older brothers were as animated as ever. Asking 20 questions about anything and everything, from preschool to if I go to church. We swam, ate (crabs, birthday cake for my uncle, hamburgers, hots, the works), camped out in the living room, and they completely disorganized everything in my craft room. Over all it was a pretty good weekend although I wish I could have spent more time with my sister and everything was so hurried it was like a whirlwind. Oh did I not mention that my blood sugars were completely inconsistent ? Which probably had to do with the fact that I was eating way more than I usually do and I took a Symlin vacation. I just didn't feel like using syringes and going through the process of drawing it up, I AM REALLY LAZY AND I HATE SYRINGES! OH PLEASE LET THERE ONE DAY (soon) BE A SYMLIN PEN!

I went to a release party at the local Barnes & Noble for the 7th and final Harry Potter Book on Friday Night. I'm really glad I did, it was really fun. I met some of my friend's friends. Observed some crazy little kids and grown-ups who were all incredibly excited. Great costumes from a family dressed as Dolores Umbrige, Moaning Myrtle, Harry Potter, and the father was in his work clothes with a label that said "Muggle", needless to say they won the costume contest. The worst part was spending a half hour in line at the Starbucks for 2 fraps and a diet root beer. As promised here are some pictures:
 (The shirts, wands, and broken Harry-like glasses are all my creations. Mine says Mrs. Finnigan for my favorite character Seamus Finnigan, and my friend lets call her the "Model" from now on, is Ron's Boo, for Ron Weasley)
Me with my book on the ride home! Oh and I still haven't finished it yet because of all the things going on this weekend, so don't spoil it!


So it's off to driver's ed with me. I'm sure this will become another topic that will increasingly involve good ol' Diabetor!

Ps. Congrats to the entire TuDiabetes Community we broke 500!

Endo Update

Yesterday, I had another appointment with my endo. We discussed the patterns I've been seeing with my readings, and he complimented me on being able to find these trends. He also said he didn't think it was possible to test as much as I do, I'm just a little OCD about it. We decided that in September we would talk pumps, after an A1c and other blood work. I think he feels that with just adding the Symlin we should wait it out to make sure I'm stable with one thing before moving on with anything else. Altough I'm sick of shots and I think a pump would help, I kind of agree, I'm seeing amazing numbers with a combination of the Symlin and finding the times where I start to climb with my blood sugar. So I have been able to curb really high highs with a quick preventative correction. The only thing is that it requires adding 2 more injections a day one at 1AM and one in the mid afternoon. So maybe that will be another way to get him to agree a pump is something that will work for me, since adjusted basal rates can eliminate these spikes. Oh yeah and I lost 5 pounds!!! Score! So all in all it wasn't too bad. So maybe that September appointment will bring a fabulous medical Birthday present!

I'm also very excited because I should be on the Diabetes Daily Headlines now!

Forums!

I have a follow up appointment on Monday with my Endo, because I have been on Symlin for a month now. When I go I would really like to discuss pumping even though he seems to be not so sure about it. So I posted some questions on Children with Diabetes & Diabetes Daily, any feedback here or or on either site would be really helpful. The following is a copy of what I posted.

I have a few questions about insulin pumps, but first I will give you a little history about myself and my diabetes.

I am 15 years old and was diagnosed 2 days after my 5th birthday, so 11 years this September. I have never been on an insulin pump, always MDI, starting with R and N and only to shots a day at diagnosis (1996) to a minimum of 8 injections a day including 3 of Symlin, 2 of Levemir, and 3 + of NovoLog. I have had many doctors one of which was what I like to call a “pump pusher”. At every appointment she was pushing the pump to me (around the age of 10) when I wanted nothing to do with it. 2 years ago I switched to a doctor who is very progressive with putting younger kids on the pump and has discussed pumps with me, but I was not ready. Now I have been investigating them as he suggested and the only one I would ever use would be the OmniPod. The only problem is that he wants my A1c under 9 before he will put me on any type of pump, but unfortunately nothing we have tried (Lantus, Levemir, and now Symlin) has been able to get me to that goal. Mostly now because I am still waking up extremely high, even though using the Symlin usually keeps me in range during the day. I am wondering if your doctors had restrictions like this before putting your children on a pump? I thought that pumps were to proven to help lower A1c’s? Would a pump possibly solve my problem with long acting insulins (Levemir and Lantus) and waking up high? Any ideas and opinions about how to get my doctor more on board would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in Advance.

Symlin Success and Free Meters!

So it's been awhile but I was just trying to wait out blogging until I had some good news. And guess what !? I have some! My average reading is down by 50!!! And almost all of my readings have been in the 100's since I reached the maximum 10 unit dose of Symlin. At first I was convinced that this was just another thing that wouldn't work for me. But once I reached 10 units after increasing by 2.5 units every 3 days (starting at 2.5 then 5 then 7.5 and now 10). It has been amazing! I never thought I would see numbers like this without alot of work. The only thing that sucks is the fact that I can barely eat which has landed me in a few lows after meals, because I inject for a certain number of carbs, even though I am cutting that dose in half. There are some meals where I can barely eat a thing and so I end up bottoming out after. No severe hypos though which was my biggest concern. I did have some nausea starting out, but now it has subsided. I don't even mind the added injection, although it dose take more time. They really need to come out with a Symlin pen! That would be AMAZING!!! All in all Symlin may just be my miracle drug, but who knows it might not be for everyone.

Check out the new One Touch Ultra Mini (I'm sure you have all seen the commercials) take the survey and you might be eligble to get one free in any of the colors or an Ultra2. I got the pink one!

Highs and Lows.

And I don't just mean blood sugar. No more meter issues yet. Yesterday I had a low of 56, which felt like crap. It happened after I did some excercising then hopped in our pool to cool off. I checked in before I started at 220, which usually means I can excercise and it will come down. But never down that far. I was floating around when I said to my mom "I think I'm low", the sad thing is if she hadn't been there I don't know if I would have been able to get out and what the outcome would have been. And then I turned into the hypo hoover, first a few ounces of soda, then a handful of chips, then I settled on eating a hot dog so I wouldnt be overloading on carbs. I can't stand how hungry I feel when I get that low. It's like rationally I can't just wait a few minutes for my blood sugar to come up, it's more of a "me want cookie" Cookie Monster syndrome.

Had an Endo apppointment today. Even though my HbA1c is now 10.5 up from 10.3 a month ago. The appointment was way better then the usual ones are. I was way more vocal and my mom took the backseat so to speak. We decided to try Symlin in addition to my current NovoLog and Levemir, except I will cut back my NovoLog by 1/2. This is the first step on a plan we made of trying new things to get in range, but hopefully it will be the only one we need to make. The benefits sound pretty good: less insulin, less post meal spikes, and possible weight loss. My doctor has been asking if I wanted to try this for awhile, but I was just not upto extra injections. But now I'm not going to let that get in the way of better control. So here goes nothing.