Sugar & Spice

That time of year for me again. I had it done this morning, so as to get it over and done with. This is also a sign to me that winter is arriving. That, and the fact that when I wake up in the mornings now it is still dark. As I have probably mentioned before I prefer colder weather...

• Things have been getting busier at work. this is a good thing - the time goes by much quicker, and I don't get time to be bored at work. Some of the work that has been coming my way has been really exciting too!
• Quite a few long weekends are on the horizon. Next weekend will be a four-day weekend (making for 2 4 day weeks). Then another holiday on Friday 27 April, and one on the Tuesday following (1 May). I was considering taking the Monday off too, to make it an even longer weekend.. But I have not yet made up my mind.
• I have not plans for all these holidays.
• I am trying to get my gym routine back to what it was. I am not sure what has happened, but I am not able to do what I could a couple of months ago. So in stead of complaining and trying to figure out why, I decided to start of slower and build up over the next few weeks. So far things are going okay. I hope to build my fitness up to what it was in the next 2 months.
• I have religiously been taking my vitamins every day. Well, some weekends I do forget... I also started taking some Omega 3, 6, and 9. it tastes disgusting, but I gulp it down form a shot glass (table spoon) and follow it by a sip of juice.
• My energy levels are improving! For a few weeks I was very tired in the evening, going to bed much to early some nights. I'm not really sure what I can attribute this to - the vitamins? Or perhaps the new tea I started drinking. It is a herb called Yerbe Mate (South American), and is supposed to have some energising and rejuvenating properties.

Oh, and diabetes. Well, it is still here, rearing it ugly head now and again. I must say that for the past few days my levels have been excellent! After my last Endo visit my night time Levemir was increased from 10 units to 12, because of the high reading I was having in the mornings. This has improved a little, but they are still not perfect. Last night a few hours after dinner I was 5.1mml/L (92) and woke this morning at 10.6mmol/L (191). If levels play along before bed tonight I will do the 2am testing to see what it is looking like then (in the past however, when I did this testing because of the higher morning readings, it would be a normal reading and I would wake up with about the same reading...). I will continue to monitor this until my next appointment at the end of May.

Labels: diabetes, fitness, general, gym, holidays, levemir, supplements, work

Posted by justme at 10:06 | Permalink | Comments

I met with Ms Minimed yesterday and it went very well. She showed me the three pumps they have available and the different features of them. She also showed me the CGMS - OMG that needle!!! (Apparently this needle does not hurt...) We spoke about diabetes control, the pump etc. and I asked her a few questions. We also discussed the pricing and how to go about motivating to the medical scheme. I have my doubts... Not so much about them paying for the pump itself, but the monthly consumables. These are very expensive. I did some calculations on the amount the Scheme is currently spending on me on average on insulin, needles, glucose strips, and then made an estimate on what insulin would costs should I change and added all the others. The amount they would have to pay is considerably larger. I will try contacting them today to see what they would cover. I would not mind a co-payment of say 10 - 20% on the pump consumables per month, but I doubt I would be able to afford paying the full amount every month...

She also gave me contact details of a pumper working close by. So we met for coffee in the afternoon. I have never really contacted somebody I don't know and invited them for coffee, so I was actually a bit nervous about the meeting, but excited too. This was the first time I have actually met another Type 1 face to face (that I know of...). We spoke about the pump, she showed it to me, where it was inserted etc. She had done a site change in the morning, so I could actually see where the previous site was too. We spoke more about diabetes, and also about things other than diabetes. It was great meeting with somebody who is actually wearing it!

My next step is to contact the Scheme to find out there policy on the monthly pump consumables. Hopefully by Monday afternoon I will meet with a rep from Roche to see the Spirit. I want to read up more about the differences between these two. It would really be great to be able to contact somebody who has actually used both..

I must say, I am quite excited about it now! Still a bit apprehensive, but I really think that moving to the pump would be a good thing. In my chat with fellow Type 1 yesterday, we spoke about controlling thing now to the best of your abilities, and not trying to fix the problems and complications later in life that could have been prevented. And I think the pump is probably a very good start!

Labels: diabetes, pump

Posted by justme at 08:52 | Permalink | Comments

I need to take control.... I am still having difficulty with my gym routine. A few months ago this was all so easy for some reason, but now I have problems getting up in the morning to go. I still manage a few times a week - but sometimes I get there too late to be able to do anything worthwhile. Yesterday morning was a good session, and I pushed myself a little harder - and it felt good. I guess I just need to find the motivation again...

My one year appointment is coming up soon. I have not yet made it. I am still considering changing endo's. I need to see someone in March - as my chronic medication will expire then (it needs to be renewed annually). I am a bit nervous about this appointment, as I know that my control has not been that good lately. I guess I have finally exiting the honeymoon period and it is time for some adjustments. It has been like this on and off since about November last year. So needless to say I am fearing the A1C the most... But this is also what is making me consider the pump even more. I have not called the rep again - hope to do that either today or early next week. I want to meet with her before my next endo appointment - so I can kind of know what I want and the questions I want to ask. I still doubt that my medical scheme will pay for the pump - but I guess if I can pay for it I should... The only other thing I am concerned about is that if I do get it (and pay for it myself), if the Scheme will cover all the monthly consumables. But first things first - I need to call her!! (I sometimes tend to put these things off....).

This morning we woke up to a very cool city - it must have been raining most of the night, and there was still a slight drizzle. Still the temperatures are okay (minimum temperature of 17 degrees Celsius).

Been having a problem with fruit lately - they seem to ripen way to quickly. Bananas are going completely mushy within 3 days, apples are too soft... I have tried buying at various different shops, but it is all pretty much the same. So tomorrow I am going to try out an organic market that is open every Saturday (at least this is the plan...). I am hoping that the fruit will be of better quality! I am dying for nice apples and bananas...

but - so glad it is Friday!!

Labels: diabetes, Endo, fruit, gym, pump

Posted by justme at 10:10 | Permalink | Comments

Just a week to go before my first exam.... I am a bit nervous already. I really want to get it over and done with. These are the only 2 papers I still need to write!

I had a good weekend, though last night was not very good. My folks visited from Saturday and we had a lovely dinner on Saturday night. The restaurant we went to was great, excellent service, and the most delicious food! And my blood sugar levels played along. It was my birthday on Sunday, but I did not do much. Went shopping in the morning, and spent the afternoon at home. During the evening I was feeling very anxious, I am not really sure why, and then I became a bit sad for no reason at all. Was still feeling it this morning, and woke up with the blood sugar to go with it... I am feeling much better now, but still feeling a bit down. It is really odd, as there is not really anything in specific I can think of that is causing me to feel this way.

the rest of this week is going to be quite busy. I will be studying as much as possible in the evenings, and over the coming weekend. I am also taking Friday off to study at home. Work is good, with most people having returned today. traffic is still a breeze as the schools only go back next week. I like this time of year for that!

I have been giving this year a lot of thought lately. There is a part of me that wants to leave the company I am working for in the next few months. I don't hate my work or anything, but I feel in come ways that it is time to move on. And I have been considering looking for employment abroad... If I apply for a visa within the next year I would more likely get it than afterward. I don't want to move permanently, but think that I would enjoy doing it again. One thing holding me back is the fact that we (the guy and I) bought a flat last year, with lots of new appliances to go with it (this sounds so stupid while typing it....). I think I should really give this more thought. Maybe look at some opportunities and decide from there...

Labels: birthday, diabetes, new year, work

Posted by justme at 12:44 | Permalink | Comments

So I have started a new blog!

My 2007 resolutions:

Firstly I have to say that I have never really been the "resolution-making" type of person. I think in the past my the idea of quiting smoking often came across my mind - it never really lasted though! But this year I can proudly say that I cannot make that resolution! It has been months (I stopped counting) since my last cigarette!! (So I can now pretend that I made that resolution last year, and that it worked!!).

So for 2007... I have not really given it that much thought. But there are a few things I would like to accomplish this year.

Firstly - I would like to get the "bad" numbers I have had these past couple of months under control. I have decided that I might meet with a new Endo in about a month or two.

Secondly - I would like to continue going to gym regularly. I think I have slacked in the past couple of months, and especially over the festive season. I have considered buying a heart rate monitor to use for my jogging - but I am still two minded about it. I think it may be a motivator to improve my fitness, but am also a bit afraid that I may buy the damn thing and end up not using it, stop exercising, and then I would feel that it was a lot of money wasted....

Thirdly - I would like to shed a bit of kilos. Not much and not quick. I plan to improve my eating habits (which should help with my first resolution too!), continue the gym-thing, and hopefully then this one will also pay off. I have gained a bit of poundage since starting the insulin-regime...

And on the diabetes front again - I have contacted a company for prices of the CGMS. They have not gotten back to me yet. But i hope to start this. And my previous feelings regarding the pump is changing, I may well even consider that this year...

So here is to a great 2007, filled with lots of happiness, good health, and great friends!

Labels: diabetes, fitness, general, resolutions, weight

Posted by justme at 13:20 | Permalink | Comments