Friday, November 29, 2013

I love pizza but my blood sugar does not!

Anyone who has diabetes knows that pasta, pizza, bread, etc. will make your blood sugar skyrocket! When I was learning how to count carbs I was taught that a slice of pizza is about 30g of carbs. That's not completely wrong but it's not exactly right either. A small slice of pizza is probably 30g of carbs. If you go out to a restaurant and order a slice of pizza it's usually a large slice! So most likely when you order a slice of pizza it's going to be about 40-50g of carbs.

 For a while I would count 30g of carbs for a slice of Dominos pizza because their slices aren't that big. I knew for a fact I was counting those carbs correctly but my blood sugar would still spike even after I gave myself the proper amount of insulin. So, what I started doing when I eat foods that are high in carbs and starch is I add extra insulin or I count carbs higher than they actually are so I get more insulin.

This brings me to the next problem... when you eat pizza, pasta, etc. you are most likely going to use A LOT of insulin. Maybe it's just me. Maybe other diabetics react differently to these foods. I had 2 large slices of pizza for dinner. I counted each slice as 40g of carbs so all together that's 80g of carbs. Now, my carb to insulin ratio is 1 unit of insulin to every 6g of carbs. I ended up giving myself 13 units. That seems like a lot to me.

 On top of that I had a glass of milk (pizza and milk do not go together but I'm on this medicine that I have to mix with my drink and it's pretty disgusting) so by the time I took my shot I had to take 17 units of insulin.

Now every diabetic is different. One diabetic's blood sugar may not spike as high as mine does when they eat pizza. Some diabetics are on insulin pumps which makes controlling blood sugars easier. But for me pizza does not like me at all! I took a ton of insulin and I'm pretty sure my blood sugar is still going to be high in an hour or so. I can almost bet money on it. The obvious thing to do would be to stop eating pizza. Yeah that makes sense but I'm allowed to cheat every now and then right? :)

Just one thing I hate about having diabetes...

There are many things i hate about having diabetes but just one of those things is eating when I'm not hungry. I haven't eaten since 6am and it's now almost 1:30pm. I was not hungry whatsoever. But I know if I didn't eat my blood sugar was going to go low. I had to force myself to eat a ham sandwich. Of course since I was forcing myself to eat I felt sick. If I wasn't a diabetic I wouldn't of had to eat. I could of skipped lunch like a "normal" person and just eat later when I was actually hungry. It really isn't that big of a deal but who really likes to force themselves to eat? Ok, I'm done complaining now. :) 

Thursday, November 28, 2013

What I really want for Christmas is......

So I have been doing a lot of thinking about what to get people for Christmas and what I should tell family that I want for Christmas. If I could have anything in the world I would really love for Santa to bring my an insulin pump. Ok maybe in a dream world I would ask for a million dollars but realistically I want an insulin pump. I thought I would have it by Thanksgiving but its almost 7:30pm on Thanksgiving and my insulin pump is not here! I do not understand why the insurance company won't approve me for a pump. Having a pump would make my life so much easier in so many ways. If I had several thousand dollars I would just buy the damn thing myself but unfortunately that's not possible. ugh....maybe by Christmas I will have one! Keeping my fingers crossed...

Friday, November 15, 2013

What NOT to say to a diabetic!!!

This girl hit it head on! This is just a few of the STUPID things diabetics hear and get asked.

http://diabetesawarenesssite.com/what-not-to-say-to-diabetics/?utm_source=social&utm_medium=dbsaware&utm_campaign=what-not-to-say-to-diabetics&utm_term=201311
15

Nick Jonas has Type 1 Diabetes?!


A few years ago, I heard that Nick Jonas from The Jonas Brothers, has type 1 Diabetes. I always get super excited when I meet or hear about other type 1 diabetics so when I heard that Nick had it, I was pretty excited because someone famous has the same disease I do! 


I was never really a fan of The Jonas Brothers. I just thought it was cool that one of the band members has diabetes. I haven't really paid much attention to Nick Jonas besides when he came out about having diabetes, until recently. 


After seeing how manly and grown up he is now, I am a HUGE fan! It's not just because of his looks. There are a few of his songs that I think are amazing! I'm obsessed with his song, Jealous! Above, is his Jealous music video. I tried putting it below but it wouldn't work for some reason!



I really look up to him. He still manages to be successful, workout (just look at his body!), and manage his diabetes. I think that's pretty awesome!


One day I would love to talk diabetes with Nick Jonas! That would be the highlight of my life...I better keep dreaming! 

My Depression/Bipolar Story

For those who may, or may not know, I have dealt with depression, and bipolar disorder since I was in middle school. I started this blog to share my ups and downs with diabetes, depression, bipolar disorder and other medical problems that I deal with but mainly I have talked about diabetes. My dream is to help other people who have been severely depressed and other people that have to deal with other mental illnesses. I think the only way to do that is to tell my story and my ENTIRE story (wow, hands are sweating already because I'm so nervous about doing this). If you are going to read this, and then judge me, you might want to stop reading now.


When I was in 3rd grade, my brother developed severe anxiety. It pretty much took over his life. I was very angry at the fact that this happened to him. It wasn't just his life that changed, but our family life too. Back then, I didn't notice a change but thinking back now, my mental health started to change when I was in the 6th grade.

 In November of my 6th grade year, I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. This was a HUGE change for me. I think it was shortly after that, I became most angry. I remember getting so mad sometimes that I felt like I couldn't control it. The only thing that made me feel even a tiny bit better was to throw stuff. I would throw my hair brush, and beat my bedroom walls until they were covered in dents and scream and cry for hours. Over the years, I broke A LOT of mirrors. That stuff seems minor but by the time I was done my 6th grade year of middle school, I was self- harming (this is the part that I am nervous about opening up about).  For some reason, hurting myself on the outside made me feel better on the inside. I did this on and off for years.

When I started high school, I started seeing a therapist. I had hoped after seeing a therapist and getting on the right medication, I would feel better. I was put on medicine for anxiety and it helped that part but I was still severely depressed. It got to the point where I wasn't sure if what I was thinking or feeling was even normal. I had been so miserable for years that it became my normal.
When I was 15, I ended up in an outpatient facility because I was having suicidal thoughts. I went to this place 8 hours a day for 7-10 days. This was the most awful experience of my life. This place was suppose to help me get better. The people there were suppose to make sure I got therapy and got on the right medication. While I was there, I heard a lady tell an 11 year old boy that he was going to hell because he liked other boys. I was also told that if I ever acted on my suicidal thoughts, that I was going to hell too. Thank God my parents took me out of there early but none of my problems were solved. I was still depressed and had crazy mood swings.

To this day, the littlest things will set me off. I went from being very happy with a lot of energy to very angry within a matter of seconds. I still get angry like that at least once a day or once every other day. It will be something as little as me burning pancakes that will set me off (I promise you this really happened). This might sound crazy and you readers are probably thinking, "Ok, so what? Everyone gets a little frustrated when they burn breakfast." But when I get mad, I can't control it. When I get angry, I feel like someone else has taken over my body. It's like it is someone else that's dropping f-bombs or slamming the burnt skillet into the sink.

So, anyway, the rest of high school I was still depressed. After graduation is when things got worse. I had no motivation to do anything. I would avoid making plans with my friends and I was sad and lonely every day. The suicidal thoughts started coming more frequently and I would even think about different ways to end my life. I was starting to scare myself. After losing two of my best friends to suicide, something went off in my head that told me I needed help. I went to one therapist for awhile who then told me I needed to see a psychiatrist to get medication. Since then, I have been prescribed many combinations of medication to see what works best for me. I also see a therapist as often as possible. With my busy schedule it's usually only been every couple of weeks but I would really benefit from going once a week.

It took losing 2 friends to suicide, and hitting the lowest of lows for me to get help. When you get as depressed as I was, it is scary. It is the most scary, and miserable place to be. I honestly have no idea how I made it through. Where did I find the strength to get help? I told MYSELF I needed help...there was no one else there to tell me I needed help. I did it all on my own.

I am in a much better place now than I use to be. I still struggle daily but not nearly as bad as I use to. Hopefully, as long as I keep going to my psychiatrist and therapist like I'm suppose to, I will stay on the right path to a brighter outlook on life. 



Thursday, November 14, 2013

Endocrinologist appointment!!!

I went to my endocrinologist the other day. I don't really have anything too exciting to say about it. My A1C was 7.3. That's not too bad but It's higher then it was 3 months ago. Back in August my A1C was 6.9! I was so proud of myself but lately I have been slacking. I have been eating A LOT of junk and that needs to stop! I think I would have better control if I could get an insulin pump...ugh that's a whole other story.
I have posted about this whole pump situation before but for anyone that doesn't know the insurance company has denied me an insulin pump THREE TIMES! I have been told 3 times that insurance won't cover an insulin pump BUT at my endo appointment the other day they told me they had an approval number from when I was approved.. so which is it??? Was I approved or not??? I tried calling the insurance company today about it but was ready to pull my hair out because all I got was recordings. Can I speak with a REAL person please?! Talking to a frickin recording isn't getting me anywhere! Hopefully I will have better luck tomorrow... Keeping my fingers crossed that all this mess gets straightened out soon!

There is so much truth in this...

This is exactly how I feel. I want to be the reason diabetics continue to fight every day for their health. I want people that have struggled with depression, and bipolar disorder to look at me and think, "This girl never gave up trying so either will I."

Saturday, November 9, 2013

What are the chances that my kids will have diabetes?

One question that I always wonder about is, "Will my kids end up having diabetes?" The thought of that happening scares me! I have enough trouble taking care of myself. How could I possibly make sure my kids' blood sugar is where it's suppose to be and make sure they took their insulin? I see how much my parents worry about my blood sugar when I'm sick, etc. They don't worry as much now that I'm older but when I was a teenager they worried A LOT. How in the world would I be able to afford to take care of myself plus another diabetic. I am probably thinking too much into this but this is my reality. It is very possible that at least one of my children will have diabetes. I pray they don't but it could happen. I would really like to know what the chances of that happening are. I know how difficult it is to live with this disease so I really do not want my kids to have to deal with it. I know if this happens I will some how find a away to deal with it but it's scary just to think about it. :-c

Friday, November 8, 2013

Feeling guilty...

The longer I've been on insulin shots, the more I realize how much easier my life would be with an insulin pump. I went to dinner tonight with a friend and of course I didn't want to interrupt dinner to excuse myself to take my shot so my blood sugar ended up going high because I waited so long to give myself insulin. If I had a pump the only thing I would have to do is push a couple buttons and the insulin would be delivered. But of course the process of getting an insulin pump is being made more difficult then it has to be. I have really been slacking on the care of my diabetes because I don't feel like pulling out my needles every time I eat, or decide to snack on junk food. I really don't want to know what my A1C is going to be when I go back to my endocrinologist..ugh...I'm such a bad diabetic.. :( I'm starting to feel a little guilty about the way I'm taking care of myself. *sigh* .___.