T1D on the Book Blog
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I said there'd be real life here, too.
I've been a type 1 diabetic for 27 years. Been on a pump for 12 years. Been on a Continuous Glucose Monitor for 6 years.
And this week, I decided to change things up.
Have you ever switched shampoos because it makes your hair feel different? Changed your work station in order to motivate some new work--words or whatever? But the change itself is what causes a new flood of productivity.
That's me with my T1D right now. I was in a slump, lackadaisical, and getting by with not much attention to detail. My A1c was 6.6, which is okay. Most doctors might applaud that number, but I know that number means my sugars have been, on average, over 140 mg/dl. And I don't like that. I'd much rather be closer to 6, if not in the 5s.
So, this week, I went off my pump. Multiple Daily Injections... back to the dark ages of diabetes management...only not so dark that I've got vials of insulin piling up. No, I'll stick to the pens. I've got a new CGM coming from Dexcom.
And I'm already seeing a difference.
In three days--this is without the CGM yet--I'm eating a good 25-50% less than I have been in a day. When you have to take a shot every time you eat, you eat less. Believe me. My sugars are a little on the higher side for the time being, but that will change when I get the Dexcom and can see what my trends are...trends meaning, after I eat I go high. Or, I'm high before I go to bed every night.
In regards to going back, and needles, I was shocked by how small the needles are. When i went off MDI all those years ago, those needles were still 1/4 inch long. I've got these amazing little 1/32nd needles...And that, my friends, is ridiculously SMALL!
Which annoyed me, because my son, who takes growth hormone and is this tiny little guy, has been using 1/16ths. He has an appointment this coming week, and I intend to get a Rx for the little guys. >:( Not sure why the little, little needles aren't standard. If I can handle a 1/32nd needle--me, at 150 lbs--then a twiggy little guy ought to get that small, too. He doesn't complain, but I hope when we get the smaller needles, he'll have an even better time than he's had over the last 7 years.
Pluses to going archaic. :D
I know that eventually, I'll go back to the pump. It's the most efficient way to manage diabetes. But for now, I feel good. And I think a little change helps us grow. Don't you??
