Diabetes and Pregnancy

Being a diabetic is hard work and stressful! Having diabetes while being pregnant just adds even more stress! No, I am not pregnant or plan on getting pregnant any time soon..but pregnancy is something women with diabetes should think about and prepare themselves for. Because I was diagnosed when I was only 11 years old, I never really thought about how diabetes would complicate a pregnancy when and if I decide to become pregnant. Now that I am getting older, and I see girls that are around my age having babies, I think a lot about how pregnancy would affect my health along with the babies. A friend of mine is a diabetic and she just had a baby. She had the baby a week early and her baby was still over 9lbs! I already know that diabetic women are at risk for having large babies but that's about all I know..so I have done some research.
 High blood sugars early in the pregnancy will INCREASE your risk of miscarriage and birth defects. The risks are higher when your hemoglobin A1C is higher than 8% and your average blood sugars are higher than 180. During the last months of a pregnancy, the women may need more insulin because the body becomes more insulin resistant. Macrosomia occurs in 15-45 percent of diabetic pregnancies. Macrosomia is when the baby weighs more than 9lbs at term.
The website I got this info from was very helpful. I will post it below.
care-during-pregnancy-for-women-with-type-1-or-2-diabetes-mellitus-beyond-the-basics

Reading about diabetes and pregnancy, is starting to make me worry. I know I probably have a few years before I have kids but my blood sugar levels are not in great control. It's not terrible but it's not really good either. The last time I went to my endocronologist my A1C was over 8%. My blood sugars are all over the place. They go from normal, to high, to low and back to high in just one day. Yes..I am only 19 and the ones reading this are probably thinking "this girl should not be worrying about this now." But this is my reality! This is just one of the problems I will face in life being a diabetic!
I'm going to go on YouTube and see if I can find any videos about women living with diabetes while pregnant!

Service dogs for diabetics?!

This article was brought to my attention from a friend. I have heard of service dogs for people who are blind and who have other disabilities but you rarely here of service dogs that can detect low and high blood sugars in diabetics! This article is very interesting. I think training dogs to help diabetics, is a great idea! They can be someone's life saver!
http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/12/11/service-dogs-pick-up-scent-diabetics-in-danger/

DKA (Diabetic Ketoacidosis)

One of the most common problems diabetics have is Diabetic Ketoacidosis. This is a serious problem among diabetics, but yet not many people know what it is. DKA happens when a diabetic is not getting enough insulin. If your blood sugar levels are running on the higher side, that's when you want to be careful and test for ketones. To do this at home, you pee on what's called Ketostix. The stick will start off tan. The darker the stick turns after you pee on it, the more ketones you have.The colors the stick could turn are anywhere from light pink to dark purple. The lighter the color, the better.
If you figure out that you have ketones, pay close attention to your body. Just because you have ketones, doesn't mean you are in DKA. If you figure out you do have ketones, drink plenty of fluids and get as much insulin as you can. This will decrease your chance of going into DKA.
The signs of DKA are:

excessive thirst or drinking lots of fluid,

• frequent urination,

• general weakness,

• vomiting,

• loss of appetite,

• confusion,

• abdominal pain,

• shortness of breath,

• a generally ill appearance,
  
• dry skin,
  
• dry mouth,
  
• increased heart rate,
  
• low blood pressure,
  
• increased rate of breathing, and
  
• a distinctive fruity odor on the breath

If you think you are going into DKA, or if you think a loved one is going into DKA you need to get checked out by a doctor immediately. DKA is nothing to play around with. It can cause someone to go into a coma, or even die.

Below, is a picture of a ketostix that someone has peed on. If you look at the chart on the bottle, you can see how the colors get darker. Also, above the colors it says negative, trace, small, moderate, and large. That can kind of give you an idea of how high your ketones are.

So tired of being sick and tired!

I feel a little guilty complaining about my health after the tragedy in CT. But I am so fed up with the way my body works! I feel like I am always sick or on meds for something. Once I fix one problem, I get another. I was having bad depression so I was put on wellbutrin. Depression got better but it increased my anxiety A LOT! Then I got 2 abscesses that were infected. I am on strong antibiotics (bactrim DS) for it and it makes me sick to my stomach. I haven't been to work for almost 4 days because I have felt so shitty. I hate missing work. I feel so guilty and then I worry about money and how or if I can pay my car payment on time if I don't work. It's a never ending thing. I get sick. Can't work. Don't get paid.not sure if I can pay everything.....equals unwanted stress!!!

I need to vent!!!

SOOOO...I know I made this blog so I could vent about diabetes but I (and my family) have had a rough week and I just need to vent about EVERYTHING.. and some of it is diabetes related. First, my uncle was taken to the hospital on Saturday. They did some tests and found a bleed in his brain. They couldn't give him the treatment he needed so they took him to another hospital that's atleast an hour away from where we live. They did surgery and a bunch of tests. They then found a leak of spinal fluid. He was getting better and wasn't as confused but today he was even more confused! They did a cat scan and found that he had a stroke. Another set back! I went and saw him the other day and his hospital is in the middle of the city and I HATE cities. I started getting very anxious and had what felt like a million panic attacks! On the way home, I threw up because I was so anxious. I have had attacks before but not to the point where I threw up.
Today, I ran out of insulin. I have tried calling my doctor for 2 weeks to get a prescription refill but of course I did't get it. That was another big stresser because it only takes me a few hours without insulin to go into DKA. (Done that before) But I finally got it!
Ok, the next thing...earlier in the week I had a bump under my skin and I just thought it was a pimple or something like that. Each day it grew and got more painful and became hot to the touch. Eventually, it was atleast the size of a golf ball. Maybe even bigger then that. I finally went to the ER. They told me it was an abscess..oh and I had 2 of them! At that point I am thinking the doctor will just give me antibiotics and send me home...NOT! He made two holes to drain the pus and infection! Then, he had to put packing in the holes so the infection continued to drain..and that's been in there for 2 days. I went back tonight for a recheck. She took the packing out and said that there was still too much infection and she had to make the drainage holes BIGGER! By tonight, the stress of everything was really getting to me. I hadn't cried all week about my uncle. But when that doctor said she was going to cut me open for the second time I immediately had a panic attack. I am usually very good about that stuff but I could not physically or mentally take anything else. I cried for the first time this week and I knew I was not going to be able to handle this procedure. The doctor ended up giving me Xanax and some other pill because I was so worked up. For the first time in my life, I cried during a health procedure. I have had needles stuck in my hips, feet, had wisdom teeth out, laparoscopic surgery, and I have had a mole removed while I was awake. All that didn't bother me. It was painful but I could handle it. I just could not handle anything else this week. Thank god my mom was there with me because I don't know what I would have done without her! And to make that whole situation worse, the abscesses are on my butt!!!! One on each cheek! So of course I can't sit for too long or walk without it hurting.
It has been almost a week since everything started happening and I am drained. I'm not hungry and my stomach has been upset from all this (but it also might be because of a new medicine I started this week). I didn't write this post for attention. I just really needed to vent and I do feel a little better. Thanks for reading!

Blood sugar low?

So for the last 2 hours my blood sugar has been low. I have had orange juice, about 24 oz of Apple juice, and 8 oz. Of chocolate milk...and this is what my sensor is reading after all that

True Life: I have Diabetes

For years, I have watched MTV's "True Life". They have so many different episodes about different lifestyles and common problems that people have or go through. They have episodes about drug use, depression and anxiety, turrets, and so much more! The show really takes you into the lives of the people living with different disorders, etc.
I just came across my favorite episode of "True Life" ever! It's called "True Life: I have Diabetes". The three young adults in this episode, show the world a little bit of what it's like living with diabetes and the problems diabetics face that no one else ever thinks about! It is CRAZY how much I can relate to all 3 of the diabetics in the show!
My blood sugars have gotten out of control from drinking to the point I was in hospital for a few days. I worry a lot about how is my disease going to affect me and my kids when I get pregnant. A lot of people don't realize that when a diabetic becomes pregnant, the pregnancy becomes high risk. Diabetic mothers will often have large babies. If the mother's blood sugar gets too high,  the baby could even die. Diabetes is also EXPENSIVE!!! I worry A LOT about how I am going to take care of my health and pay all my medical bills once I am out on my own. Insurance doesn't cover everything!
If you would like to get a better understanding of diabetes and what it's like to live with diabetes I highly suggest that you watch this "True Life" episode. I copied the link below. The episodes are usually an hour but there are no commercials so it's only about 40 minutes! Please watch!


http://diabetesawarenesssite.com/?p=1513

My body is so confusing!!!

So, for days now my blood sugar has been shitty...like 200 and above. The last 2 days, it has been getting better...A LOT better actually. Lately, before I go to bed my blood sugar is below 100 so I eat a little snack so it stays up over night. Then, I expect it to be high when I wake up in the morning and It's not! It's been around 150 when I wake up and usually its in the 200's. I am almost always high after breakfast but all day today I have been below 120! I think It's helping that I have been measuring EVERYTHING I eat so I know exactly how many carbs I'm getting. Aslo, I have been taking my symlin shot more often when I eat. I really hope that as long as I keep doing all this, my blood sugar will stay under control

"Insulin is not a cure. It's my life support."

This brave little girl stole my heart. Her story took me back to 9 years ago when I was diagnosed.
Watch "Alana's Type 1 Diabetes Story" on YouTube

Diabetes Rap!

I was searching random stuff on YouTube and I came across this and I LOVE IT! Enjoy!
Watch "Diabetes Rap ???!!!!
Stupidest song ever!!!" on YouTube

Bad day!

Today has been horrible. My blood sugar has not been below 300 all day! I keep giving myself insulin but nothing is working. I have barely eaten anything all day so I know It's not because I have been snacking a lot. My insulin pump isn't leaking. It seems like lately my blood sugar has been 200 or higher and It's pissing me off!!! I should probably call my endocrinologist but he will put me on more insulin. I am already on a shit load of insulin and that's probably the reason why I have been gaining weight and I don't want to gain anymore weight. Ugh!!!! It's aggravating! I'm thinking maybe my insulin pump has something to do with it. I feel like I was doing better when I had my Medtronic pump. Maybe not by much but better than I am now. I feel bad for switching pumps again. I have only had the omnipod for not even a year and my family and I went through so much to get it that I would hate to switch yet again. I am so confused and frustrated right. I'm also scared because if I can't get my blood sugar under control, I'm going to have a lot more problems in the future :(

Diabetes and my pet peeves!

One of my pet peeves is when other people are concerned about what I eat. They might call it "concerned" but I call it "being nosey and I really wish you would mind your own damn business". One day when I was at work, my blood sugar went low. This girl looked at me and said, "Do you really think you should be drinking that milk." I felt like saying, "Do you really think you should be eating that piece of cake?" When people ask dumb questions like that, I have to try so hard not to say something smart. I know some people just care but please educate yourself on my disease before you start telling me how to control it.
When I'm at work, I usually have to turn my basal rate Off for a few hours because I have a terrible time with going low because I'm constantly moving. For those of you who don't know what a basal rate is, it's the amount of insulin your insulin pump gives you in an hour to help keep your blood sugar controlled. Since, insulin lowers your blood sugar and you know your blood sugar is going to be on the lower side for a while you kind of just want to get rid of it. That's the only way I know how to explain it. Anyway, that's what I did One day at work. I wasn't getting any insulin while I was at work one day because I turned off my basal rates. Well, because my body has issues, my blood sugar still went down to 39! My supervisor was questioning me about why my blood sugar dropped because she knows it all, right? (Sarcasm) Well, I explained to her that I didn't know why my blood sugar dropped because I had turned my basal rate off. She looked at me and said, "Well don't you think that maybe you SHOULDN'T have done that?" I wanted to smack her. I was so frustrated. Her grandson is a type 1 diabetic, so I thought she understood but obviously not. And since her grandson has diabetes, she automatically knows EVERYTHING about diabetes and can tell you how to treat it (Sarcasm again). People do not think before they speak. And maybe I'm overreacting, but everything gets old when you live with the same disease 24/7 your entire life.

Walk for Diabetes 2013

Me and some friends are getting together to raise money for diabetes! There is a diabetes walk April 2013 that we will be participating in! I'm super excited to be apart of this. Diabetes is a MAJOR part of my life and so many other lives as well! In the link I will post below, feel free to join our team or even donate! We aren't asking for a lot. Every little bit counts! Diabetes is a disease that is close to our hearts and we would greatly appreciate it if you could help us raise money to hopefully one day find a cure. http://www2.jdrf.org/site/TR/Walk-MD/Chapter-Maryland4256?px=1222592&pg=personal&fr_id=2140

Friends with diabetes, DKA

When I got home from work tonight, I had a text message from a good friend that also has diabetes. She was being admitted to the hospital because she had gone into DKA. I feel bad because I know how that feels. I know what it's like to spend a night or 2 in the hospital, and getting my blood sugar checked every 1-2 hours. I also know how frustrating and scarey it is. I wish I could take it away from her but I can't. I wish I had special powers to cure diabetes for her, other diabetics, and myself.
I wouldn't wish diabetes on anyone. But it is nice to know that I have a few friends that have diabetes. We may not talk all the time or be "best" friends, but because of this disease we truely are "best" friends and we will always have a bond no matter how close we really are. Diabetes is something that you can't understand unless you are actually living with it. You DO NOT understand just because your aunt is a diabetic. You DO NOT understand just because your blood sugar drops occassionally. You DO NOT understand just because your grandson is diabetic and you give him shots every once in awhile. You MIGHT have a taste of what it's like to live with diabetes but you DO NOT completely know. Even the doctors don't understand!

Forgetting Your Insulin/Insulin Pump

Who would have ever thought that a diabetic could actually forget to take their insulin or even forget their insulin pump? Well, I am here to tell you that IT IS possible! While trying to live our lives as normal as possible, it is so easy to forget the most important thing to us! Today, I left for work about 30 minutes early so I could go to subway. I ate my sub and was getting ready to give myself insulin for it when I remembered, "Oh sh*t! I left my PDM (the "remote" that controls my insulin intake through my pump") at home, along with all my extra insulin!) I thought I would be alright because I was only supposed to be working for 4 hours. Well, an hour and a half into my shift I was feeling sick to my stomch, I had a headache, and I was extremely thirsty. I was not going to last 4 hours and I was stupid to think that I could. I didn't want to leave work early but I knew that if I didn't, I was probably going to be even more sick than I already was. I can see how someone who is not a diabetic, wonder, "How in the world can you forget your insulin/insulin pump?" It's just like when someone who is not diabetic, forgets to take their pills in the morning or before they go to bed. It is the same thing, except forgetting your insulin sometimes has bigger consequences. It sucks and when I do it, I end up getting down on myself for it because I know what could happen if my blood sugar gets too high.

What if I never had diabetes?

I often wonder what my life would be like, if I never had diabetes. Would I have more fun with my friends? Right now, when I hang out with my friends, I am constantly worried about my blood sugar. When I am with my friends, we do a lot of EATING! The more I eat, the more my blood sugar goes up. Would I have more fun if I never had to worry about any of that? I think I probably would. If I never had diabetes, would I be more comfortable in my body? Since I have been diagnosed, I have gotten alot of scars from needles. They are not cute! I have also gained a lot of weight. If I was never diagnosed, would I have ever gained all that weight? I would probably have more confidence when I got dressed in the morning. I would be more comfortable in tight fitting clothes because 1. I wouldn't be so fat and 2. I wouldn't have to worry about if my POD was noticeable or not (I'll post of pic of the POD at the end). If I never had diabetes, would I have as much stress in my life? Probably not. I wouldn't have to constantly worry what my blood sugar was. I wouldn't ever have to worry if I had enough insulin or not. I'd never have to worry if I remembered my glucometer when I went out somewhere for a day. I would never have to worry if I had snacks with me. I would probably have more confidence when I applied for a job or when I got a new job. Right now, I worry about if my boss or coworkers will be understanding if I have to sit down because my blood sugar is low or even high. If I never had diabetes, I feel like my life would be so much easier. I'm not trying to feel bad for myself but this is my reality. This is how my life is. Having diabetes isn't just about taking shots and watching your blood sugar. There is so much more that comes along with it that no one realizes.
This is a POD. It holds insulin and it is big and bulky.
.

Diabetes, A1C

Ever since the day I was diagnosed with diabetes, I have been told that my A1C should be in the 7.0-8.0 range. Very rarely, has my A1C been below 8.0. I feel like no matter how hard I try to keep my blood sugars under control, they just aren't! Now, that I'm an adult, I am being told that my A1C should be in the 6.0 range. How am I suppose to do that?! That would be great if I could get my A1C to be that low but it feels impossible. I have been watching my blood sugars on my CGM (continuous glucose monitor), hoping that will help but it doesn't really seem to be doing much. I'm hoping it will just take time. Today, my blood sugar was never below 200. I was giving myself insulin every time I ate and every time I saw my blood sugar was high...nothing helped. I was even pretty active today which usually makes my blood sugar drop! I know that if I don't get this under control, I am going to have complications later in life. But what am I suppose to do when I feel like I have done everything I can??? It would be so easy to just give up, but at the same time it will be easy for me to get extremely sick...I am feeling like I am in a lose, lose situation.

http://www.diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/treatment-and-care/blood-glucose-control/a1c/

Helping other diabetics..

When I started this blog, my goal was to hopefully help other diabetics. I want other people that other living with this horrible disease, to know that they are not alone. Many people live with this disease.
I was beginning to think, that writing about diabetes wasn't helping anyone. Not many people comment on my posts. The other night, I got a message on Facebook from a girl who is also living with diabetes. She told me how much she appreciated my blog. That message made it all worth it. Because of her, I will do my best to continue writing about diabetes. I want to continue to write about my daily struggles and other people's struggles. I'm hoping my blog will help more people!

Insulin Pump, Snacking, Diabetes

These days, diabetics are told they can eat whatever they want. Years ago, it didn't use to be like that. Whenever we eat, we have to give ourselves insulin (either through a shot or an insulin pump). At dinner, we have to take give insulin. Then, five minutes later if we want a piece of cake, we have to give ourself more insulin. The doctors and diabetes educators tell us that is ok...and I guess it is ok. But what they don't tell you is that if you snack on junk all day (and we all do it!), then your blood sugar is going to constantly be high. Carbs and sugar get "soaked up" in your body faster than insulin does. The food will be in your system almost immediately but insulin takes TWO HOURS to completely work! Let's say you are at a party. When you arrive, you get a glass of punch and eat dinner. You give yourself insulin for all that you ate. An hour later, you decide to visit the snack table. You give yourself insulin but your body hasn't had time to process the insulin from dinner so your blood sugar is already going to be slightly high. Then, 2 hours after you had dinner, you decide to get a piece of cake. Your body has processed the insulin from dinner but is still processing the insulin you took to cover all your snacks so your blood sugar is still high. If you go through that cycle several times in a day, your blood sugar is never going to be in the normal range.
This weekend I went on vacation to New Jersey. When anyone goes on vacation, they eat! I ate so much stuff! I went on the boardwalk and I got fried pickles, fried cookie dough, cheesesteak, etc. My body didn't have any time to process the insulin before I was shoving something else in my mouth! Of course, my blood sugar was high the whole time! I'm not sure if I explained this right or if it makes sense at all but my point is no matter what the doctors tell you, you still have to watch what you eat!

Diabetes, Exercise, Hypoglycemia (Low Blood sugar)

One of the things diabetics are told, is to exercise! It will help you to have better control over your blood sugars...that's what I'm told anyway! I have been trying to go to the gym several times a week. It really helps to bring my blood sugar down when it is high and that's great! But it ALWAYS brings it down too much! I feel like no matter what I do, I'm losing. My blood sugar won't ever  be in the normal range. It will be too high or too low! UGH! It's a never ending cycle. I check my blood sugar before I work out. If it's even 200, it will drop and it will drop quickly!!! I have tried eating a snack before I work out or drinking some juice..it still drops! I have tried eating protein before I work out, and it does nothing to help. I have even turned off my basal rate so I'm not getting any insulin while I work out! I still go low! What is the frickin point of working out, if I'm just going to have to eat a lot of carbs and sugar! If I eat a lot before I work out, I feel sick. If I eat after I work out, why did I even bother going to the gym because I just put all those calories back in my body! Exercising is suppose to be good for my body but it seems like it's just putting my body at risk. When I go to the gym, I can't push myslef to work out really hard because I'm too busy keeping track of my blood sugar or too busy worrying about it! I want to be able to get on the treadmill for an hour, and not have to worry about anything. After 30 minutes, I'm done. And I can't do any weight lifting or anything because I have to go eat. Now, I'm just to the point I don't even want to go to gym at all but I still try to push myself. My next idea is to go to the gym during the time of day when my blood sugar is the highest to see if that helps any. I always wake up in the morning with high blood sugar so I'm hoping if I go to the gym in the AM after I eat breakfast, that will help. I am keeping my fingers crossed!

I haven't posted in over a week!

So, I haven't posted anything in a while because I could not think of anything to talk about! After a week or so of not posting anything I have thought of some things I would like to talk about and some things I want you guys to think about. I'm probably going to do about 2 or 3 different posts since none of these topics are related! 

I am drawing a blank!

I have been drawing a blank lately about what to write about! I know there has got to be A LOT more to say about diabetes but I can't think of anything! I need some ideas!

Diabetes and Bipolar

I have been a diabetic for almost 8 years. Hard to believe! Even after all this time living with diabetes, I still learn knew stuff about it, or learn about new ways to control my blood sugar. Just when I think I know it all, I learn something else!
I think I was a freshman in high school when I started seeing a counselor. At that point, I had been a diabetic for about 3 years. I was having terrible mood swings, and depression. I was a mess! After going to the counselor, she started to think that I was bipolar. I thought she was crazy! A lot of the time, when someone thinks about bippolar, they often think psychotic and dangerous..maybe other people didn't think that way but I did!
Here I am, 5 years later, and my moods are worse than ever! I recently started going to a different counselor, and I love her! When I started seeing her, she also said that it sounded like I had a form of bipolar. ( Some forms of bipolar, are more severe than others.) She then explained to me that, because my blood sugars are so uneven right now, it can mess with my moods. So now, the question is, "Where do I go from here?" I need to go see a psychiatrist so I can get my depression medicine evaluated or get a different medicine or something! The problem is no one takes my insurance!
While I have been waiting to see a doctor, I have been doing some research. I have found out that people with bipolar disorder, are 3 times more likely to have diabetes than other people in the population. My mom said that a site she was on said that they aren't sure if diabetes causes bipolar, or if bipolar causes diabetes. Either way, they are definitely related! I also read somewhere that some antidepressants, can increase the severity of your bipolar disorder. Prozac, the medicine I'm on, is one of those antidepressants!
After reading that, it is obvious to me that a lot of doctors still don't know how to treat bipolar disorder! The doctor knew that I was showing signs of bipolar disorder, but then put me on a medicine that could make it worse! It makes no sense to me! Not only that, but I don't think doctors know the relation between bipolar disorder and diabetes. So, when a Psychiatrist gets a patient that is a diabetic and also showing signs of having bipolar disorder, they don't treat the bipolar because they assume the mood swings, etc. are from unstable blood sugars.
Living with diabetes is one thing. But then knowing you have another problem because of your diabetes is another. Having diabetes sucks! But some days, I think dealing with the bipolar or whatever it is, is worse! Going from a lot of energy and not being able to sleep, to irritable and severely depressed and tired in a matter of hours, sometimes even minutes, is very difficult to deal with. If someone you know is living with diabetes, depression, bipolar, etc., make sure they know you care and give them as much support as you can even though some days, you won't be able to do a thing for them. Diabetes is a never ending cycle. If it's not your blood sugar, it's something else. http://ezinearticles.com/?Bipolar-Disorder-and-Diabetes---Whats-the-Connection?&id=4600063

My Struggle with DKA (Diabetic Ketoacidosis) and Alcohol

Diabetic Ketoacidosis is a life threatening condition that diabetics get when they don't get enough insulin. It is most common in Type 1 diabetics but occasionally happens in Type 2 diabetics. Severe cases of DKA, can result in death. Below is a link from wikipedia. It explains DKA better than I can!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabetic_Ketoacidosis

As a diabetic, I have been told to not drink alcohol at all. I was told, "You will die if you drink alcohol." I am very stubborn, so of course I did not listen. I saw other people with diabetes drink and they never got sick or anything. So, through high school, I would drink a beer here and there. I never got drunk, just had an occasional beer with friends. Nothing happened to me. I never got sick or anything. My blood sugar went up a little bit but nothing a little insulin couldn't fix.
I think I was a junior in high school. A friend and I were invited to a party. I had never been to an actual party, so I was excited and of course I went. I hate the taste of beer. I guess that's why I never drank much of it. So, that night, I was drinking Mountain Dew and Malibu. Each one of those drinks, was loaded with sugar! I did my best to bolus (give myself insulin through my insulin pump) and check my sugar frequently. Well, after a couple of those drinks, I was completely trashed. After awhile, I was not in my right mind to check my blood sugar or give myself insulin. I ended up throwing up that night, and passing out on someone's couch. (not one of my proudest moments)
The next morning when I woke up, I didn't feel terrible but of course I didn't feel great either. My friend and I ended up going back to her house and falling asleep. Before I even fell asleep, I was throwing up. I thought to myself, "I will go to sleep and wake up feeling better. I'm just hung over." I threw up about once every 30 minutes for about 2 hours. Then, it got to the point where I couldn't even keep gatorade or water down. The minute anything got in my stomach, I was throwing up. On top of that, my blood was almost 500. My gut feeling was telling me something was wrong.
Before I tell the rest of the story, let me just say me and my Mom had an arguement the night before about what time I was to be home that night, and about how I was not staying the night anywhere that night. Of course, the hard headed person I am, argued with her and eventually she let me stay at my friends house that night...but we never made it to my friends house that night because we were both drunk. So, before I go any further, my mom knew what was going to happen that night and she wanted me to be home at a certain time. But like most parents of teenagers, she gave in and let me do what I want.
Anyway, when my gut feeling was telling me something was wrong, I knew I had to call my mom. I was so scared she was going to be mad but I knew I was really sick. Surprisingly, she wasn't mad when I called her. She was concerned but not mad. She immediately told me to get to the hospital. My friend took me to the ER and my Mom met us there. I couldn't even go the 10 minute drive without throwing up. By the time I got to the hospital, I was so sick. Every inch of my body was in pain. The doctor gave me some medicine for the nausea and that pain. At first, the medicine wasn't enough to keep me from throwing up so I was given more. I threw up so much that morning, that I was just gagging. Nothing was coming out of my stomach anymore.
I was admitted to the Critical Care Unit. I'm not sure if I was drugged up, sick or both, but I couldn't stay awake long enough to have a conversation with anyone. I was in the hospital for a night before they released me. The doctor wanted me to stay in there longer because my pulse was still high but I refused.
Thinking back on those few days, I feel so incredibly guilty. I almost died. I put my parents and myself through a lot of pain that was not nececssary. I should have listened to my Mom when she told me to come home that night but I didn't. I still drink occasionally (yes, even though I'm not 21. But that's not the point). When I do drink, I check my blood sugar OFTEN. I give myslef extra insulin just to be on the safe side. Since then, I have not gotten trashed. Even drinking just one drink now, scares me. If my blood sugar reaches 300 or even 250 while I am drinking, I immediatley stop. I don't care if I just poured a drink. Someone else can drink it or I will pour out.
Going through that experience made me realize how serious DKA really is. Since then, when I get ketones or my blood sugar is high, I take care of it immediately or try to anyway. Sometimes, I still end up in the ER. But since that day, I have never been that sick again. I'm not saying that it won't happen again, but I know that if there is a next time, it will not be my fault.

Eating Disorder: Diabulimia

A lot of young people (mostly girls) suffer from eating disorders. One eating disorder imparticular is never talked about and hardly ever heard of. It's called Diabulimia. Diabulimia is an eating disorder that some diabetics go through. Diabulimics will keep their blood sugar levels high and not take their insulin so they can lose weight. It is extremely dangerous! It will send diabetics into DKA (diabetic ketoacidosis). DKA makes you very sick! If you get DKA, you can end up in a coma or even die. Diabulimia is just like any other eating disorder. It's serious, it's a problem, and it shouldn't go untreated! I am going to post a link below. A teenage girl tells her story about living with Diabulimia and how close she came, muliple times, to almost losing her life.
http://www.healthcentral.com/diabeteens/c/71576/18873/story

Insulin pump VS shots

Being a diabetic, I know there are different treatment options. You can choose from insulin shots, or an insulin pump. When I was first diagnosed with diabetes, I was on shots for about a year before I got an insulin pump. I wanted an insulin pump because I thought my blood sugars would be better controlled and I wouldn't have to stick myself with needles several times a day. I also thought it would better because because I wouldn't have to carry around needles and insulin all the time or find somewhere I could go so I could give myself a shot when I was out in public.

After being on the insulin pump for a little while, I didn't really see a difference in my blood sugars. Not having to carry around needles and insulin was good but having an insulin pump had it's own issues. I had to carry around extra supplies and extra insulin in case the tubing ripped out of my skin. When I wore a dress, I had no where to put it. With jeans, I stuck in my pocket or between my pants and hip and it would stay there. When I was in gym class, I had a problem with the pump getting in my way. I would run and it would fall out from under my shorts and wrip out of my skin or it would just hang there. It was such a pain in the butt! At night, I had a hard time finding a place to put the pump when I was asleep. I usually put in next to me on the bed but then sometimes the cord would get hung up in my sheets. It was a mess! I always had to make sure the tubing was tucked in my pants or it would get wrapped around door knobs, etc. and rip the tubing out of my skin.

A few years went by when I heard about the omnipod. It's a different kind of insulin pump. There is no cord to get wrapped around anything, and I don't have to keep the remote part of it on me. I can leave the remote in the house if I want to be outside all day and I will still get my basal. Now, I'm finding some problems with it. First, the pod (where the insulin is located) is bulky and you can see it under my shirt. I have had a lot of times when the canula rips out of my skin. I can't put it on my legs (same with the other insulin pump I talked about) because my jeans get caught on it and it rips off. Once you fill a pod with insulin, it's almost impossible to get it back out. So, if the pod rips off my body or starts leaking, that's a waste of insulin. There is no getting the insulin out to put it in a new pod! Lately, I have had a lot of problems with "pod errors" or my pods will leak some how even if the canula is still in my skin. So, that's more insulin and more pods that are being wasted.

With that being said, I'm having a hard time deciding which treatment would be best for me now! Each one has it's ups and downs and that is never going to change. I went from shots to the pump because I thought it would make my life easier. I went from the pump to the omnipod because I thought it would make my life easier. But now, I have come to realize that it doesn't matter what I do, it's all going to be a pain in the ass! (excuse my language)

If you are a diabetic trying to figure out if you would rather take shots or get an insulin shot please read this. Take all this into consideration but in the end it's all about what's better for you. You may have a better experience with these options then I have had. You may even find some ways around these problems. I guess you just have try each one to know what works for you.

Diabetes causes other health problems!

When someone is diagnosed with diabetes, you think, "I just have to worry about insulin, counting carbs, etc. for the rest of my life. That's all." NO! That's not all! When you become a diabetic, you have a higher risk of getting a lot of other medical problems too. And your risks are even higher when you don't take care of your diabetes! We are at risk for gum disease, kidney damage, heart disease, neuropathy, retinopathy, stroke, yeast infections (females) and much more. So, many diabetics like myself have a lot of different doctors and it gets expensive and annoying! I have an Endocronologist, Opthomologist, Dentist, Neurologist, Psychiatrist and I use to see an Allergist. That is a lot of frickin doctors! When one becomes a diabetic, you may think they only have that one health problem to worry about but over the years many more problems are going to come along.

I have what's called Granuloma Annulare. It's a skin condition that, of course, diabetics are more at risk for. (I didn't kow that until I was diagnosed with it.) I have these bruise like spots on my legs and feet. Some of the spots even look like ring worm. It's really unattractive and they won't go away!

When I was a freshman in high school, I started getting migraines. My dad had them when he was younger so it runs in my family. I have never been told that diabetes and migraines are related but I'm pretty sure they are. When my blood sugar is high, I get headaches. Some are more severe than others. But I also get bad headaches when my blood sugar is in the normal range.  I have a friend that is diabetic and she said she has a hard time with migraines as well. It really wouldn't surprise me if diabetes and migraines are related.
 
I also have some psychiatric problems. I hate that word (psychiatric) because when someone sees that word they automatically think crazy person! I have been diagnosed with depression and have been told I have signs of a disorder called bipolar 2 (less severe than bipolar 1). I have days it's hard for me to function and I have mood swings often. The depression and mood swings are difficult to treat because blood sugars have a huge affect on a person's mood. When your blood sugar is in a normal range, you can be in a good mood. But when they spike or drop, you can become irritable. If your blood sugars are up and down a lot during a day, that can make you have mood swings and affect how you are feeling mentally. 

Living with diabetes isn't just about living with diabetes by itself. There are many other difficulties that come a long with it and these are just a few of them. I have shared some pretty personal stuff but I did because I hope that I can help atleast one person know they are not alone and are not the only person going through all this.

Diabetes tattoo, Medical Alert

I am really considering getting this tattoo. My medical alert bracelet falls off and gets in the way when I'm working so I don't even wear it. It's a good idea to have some sort of information on you at all times to tell people that you're diabetic in case something ever happens!

Venting, diabetes, Gaining Weight

So, today I need to do a little venting! Being a diabetic sucks! There is not a nice way to put it! Most diabetics gain a lot of weight or have trouble keeping their weight under control. I am one of them! As a girl, appearance is a huge part of my self esteem and right now my self esteem is horrible!! In the last 2 years, I have gained about 40+ pounds! I am embarassed to admit it but a lot of diabetics will go through it. I am getting between 50-80 units (sometimes more) of insulin a day! The more insulin I get, the more fat I store in my body! So, the smart thing to do would be to eat less so I don't get as much insulin, right? WRONG! Right now my blood sugars will shoot up to 300 or higher causing me to need more insulin. It doesn't matter if I eat or not. If my blood sugar is over 180, I'm getting extra insulin which means extra fat!!! It's so frustrating! I work out, and try to eat right but it doesn't seem to do anything!
This website explains how insulin stores fat, better than I can!
http://fitnessblackbook.com/dieting_for_fat_loss/insulin-and-fat-loss-a-simple-explanation/

Dexcom Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM)

For awhile now, my blood sugars have been up and down. Some days I will have readings as low as 39 but then later they will be as high as 500! (All in one day!) When your blood sugar goes from one extreme to the next, it takes up A LOT of your engergy! Over a year ago, I got the Medtronic Continuous Glucose Monitor. I hated it! I would have to use 5 pounds of tape to get it to stick to my skin! My blood sugars were not reading accurately at all. On the CGM, my blood sugar would read in the high 100's but when I did a finger stick, my blood sugar was really in the 50's. One of the main reasons for getting the CGM was so I could catch my low blood sugars faster before they went dangerously low! Obviously, that wasn't happening! When I wore the sensor, I was getting alarms several times a day and during the night! If I laid on it wrong when I was sleeping, it would beep because it couldn't get a blood sugar reading. It was such a pain and it was annoying! Eventually, I just stopped wearing it all together. It wasn't doing me any good anyway. A few months back I heard of another CGM that was made by Dexcom. I had heard that it was a lot better than the one made by Medtronic. When I went to my Diabetes Educator, I asked about it. She told me that she used the Dexcom CGM and loved it!  (Diabetes Educator is also diabetic) I have now been using the Dexcom CGM for almost a week and I already like it better than the Medtronic CGM. The only alarms I get with this CGM, is when my blood sugar goes above 300 or below 70. I find that very helpful without it being annoying! With the new CGM, I can track how much insulin I get at a certain time, and exercise! When I download my blood sugars off of the CGM, all of the information I entered will be downloaded too! If any diabetic is having problems with low blood sugars, high blood sugars, or having a lot of "up and down" blood sugar days, I would highly reccomend this product!
Below is a link to the Dexcom website.
http://www.dexcom.com/

This is what the medtronic sensor looks like. The white piece (transmitter) does not stick to your skin so a lot of tape is needed to keep it in place!

This is the dexcom sensor. No tape needed. The tape is already attached to it.

My Story

     Hi, my name is Katie and I'm 19 years old. When I was 11, I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Over the years, I have come to realize that there are no support groups or anything for teenagers or young adults who have diabetes. That is why I wanted to make a blog. I want other young adults and teens, that are living with this disease, to know they are not alone. I also want the people that don't have diabetes, to have a better understanding of what it's like to live with it and how difficult it is.

My Story:
I was in 5th grade when I started getting sick. I was about 5'5'' and weighed about 84 pounds. I was absolutely sick looking. I was always thirsty and it didn't matter how much I drank. I was still thirsty. I had headaches every day and I was even peeing the bed in the middle of the night. Even through all that, my parents and I never thought anything was wrong. During summer vacation I was still having the same symptoms but never thought anything of it. That year I started middle school. I was going to the bathroom several times during one class and I constantly needed a drink of water. In October, we had a surprise party for my Dad's 40th birthday. I was drinking  A LOT of soda that night because I was so thirsty. I drank so much I felt sick to my stomach. I finally went to my Mom and told her I wanted to go to the doctor because I thought something was wrong. We scheduled an appointment for later that week. When I went to the doctor, they checked my blood sugar. My blood sugar was so high it wouldn't read on the glucometer. I was terrified. I was immediately put in the hospital. After one night in the local hospital, I was taken to A.I. Dupont Hospital in Wilmington, Delaware. During my stay, I was taught how to check my blood sugar, how to count carbs, how to give myself shots, etc. Looking back now, I would never have thought my life would be like this. I never imagined taking care of my health would be this hard or time consuming. Diabetes does not keep me from doing what I want. I just have to be extra careful with some things I do. I would never wish this on anyone but I would like to help other people that deal with this same disease.