My weekly update

I figured I would post on here how my week has been with my sugars.

So we had a hard start to the week. I got over the feeling like crap from my suagars coming into normal then I started to get highs. Well, then I started to feel like total crap from that! As I was sitting there ready to scream because I'm now getting highs and why!!!??? Well Lets see, there were a few reasons. One, my site was bad with my pump so I changed that a total of 2 times. Then it got better but, took hours on hours to come down when I would eat. Well, I got to chage the site again! Now, because I had a bad bottle of insulin. After all of that I now have things back to normal.

Good lessons learned from this. 1, if you have more than 2 highs in a row with no reason change your site (if on a pump) 2, if this does not work change the site and bottle of insulin.

Insulin pumps

So I am writing to ask everyone that reads my blog a few questions. I would like you to leave a comment and tell us (if your on a pump) what brand of insulin pump you are using. I would also like you to leave a little bit of feed back concerning what features you like the most about your pump. I feel this will help all of our readers when it comes to insulin pump therapy. Thank you so much for your support.

Warning signs of diabetes

Here is a list of the common warning signs of diabetes. Please remember this is not a complete list and only your doctor can determine if you have diabetes and treat any illness you have.

Common warnings signs of diabetes include:

• Increased thirst (can not drink enough)
• Increased hunger (especially after eating)
• Dry mouth
• Frequent urination or urine infections
• Unexplained weight loss (even though you are eating and feel hungry)
• Fatigue (weak, tired feeling)
• Blurred vision
• Headaches
• Diabetic coma (loss of consciousness)

If you are having any of the above symptoms please see a doctor quickly. If you have further questions please feel free to e-mail me.

Diabetic Ketosis (DKA)

Diabetic ketosis also known as DKA occurs when there is to much sugar in the blood. The body will use its fat for energy when it cannot use the sugar for energy. When this happens chemicals called ketones are left in the blood. People with diabetes who have to much sugar and ketones in there blood are at risk for life-threatening ketosis. It will usually happen gradually over several hours or even days at that. The leading reason why people with diabetes have too much sugar in there blood is from not taking there insulin properly or even at all.

Ketosis happens from any of the following reasons:
- Not taking insulin properly
- Illness creating an increased need for insulin
- Emotional stress leading to an increased need for insulin or leading to not taking insulin
- Rebound from hypoglycimia

Warning signs:
Early signs:
-High blood sugar levels
-Ketones in urine
-Frequent urination
-Thirsty
-Sleepy
-Upset stomach

Late signs:
-Belly pain
-Headache
-Vomiting
-Dehydration
-Increased effort to breath
-Fruity smell to breath

Call your doctor or 9-1-1 imediatly if you suspect DKA. Sugar and insulin are needed to reverse DKA, you must follow your doctors orders. DKA is a very serious medical condition and must be treated as such. I have personally had this on a number of occasions and have ended up spending time in the Intensive Care Center at the hospital for a few days. Knowing the warning signs and getting medical help early on will help you contain the severity of the situation.

* This is not medical direction and you should speak to your doctor for more information.

Lets talk Hyperglycemia

I wanted to talk real quick about hyperglycimia (high blood sugar).

Causes of high blood sugars: too much food intake, too little insulin or diabetes pills, illness, or stress.
* Keep in mind that highs will often start out slowly and gradually rise.

Some of the symptoms may include:
1) Extreme thirst
2) Need to urinate often
3) Dry skin
4) Hunger
5) Blurry vision
6) Drowsy

***High blood glucose may lead to a medical emergency if not treated***

Carbohydrates VS sugars

The question to you is this: What will raise your blood sugar more a baked potato or a brownie? Well the answer is the potato. So your question is well why is that? I thought that sugar raises your readings....

Well, sugar does raise your blood sugars but, it really is not the sugars as much as the carbs. We now know that carbs are what needs to be watched by the diabetic more than the sugars. Sugars are actually counted into the carb totals. So watch what your eating as far as carbs go.

Most doctors are now placing diabetics on a carb scale where there insulin actually accounts for the total carbs you take in. Speak to your doctor about carbs for further information.

Where do I start?

So, I visited the family doctor back in October of 2010 and he ran my normal blood work including my A1C. Well, my A1C came back at a very high 9.5. My prior reading was 8.5 back in the summer around June of 10. See thats kind of where the trouble started for this issue. I seen a Endro in the spring and then decided to move over 2 hours away from that doctor and I did not find nor look for a new Endro. When the family doc got the results back he called and told me I need to see and Endro..... big shock....... not!

So he referred me to a diabetes center in my area and they called in October to set an appointment. They set it for January of 2011 because they are so booked. I went to the new doctor on January 11 and they were not happy with my numbers at all. Well there were really no numbers to even look at saying I stopped years ago really even checking my sugars.

The doctor asked why I stopped and all i could say was I gave up on trying anymore. I told her I could not find a doctor that really gave a shit so why should I? She assured me she was not like that and she would do everything she could to help me. I didnt really buy that but hey we will see right? So I promissed her that I would start checking my sugars and actually taking insulin for the foods I'm eating. I promissed to check at least 4 times a day. And I have actually followed through with it. On January 12 I checked 7 times! Guess what My highest sugar was only 228 that day. On January 13 I checked 13 times and my highes was 186. But, my lowest was 38. I called the doctors office to ask for an emergency kit to be called into the pharmacy for the lows and explained to the woman about the low. About 20 mins later the nurse called and talked to me about the lows I was having and told me she would talk to the doctor and call me back. Well, about 10 mins later the doctor called me! That was a big surprise to me. She changed a few of my insulin settings and told me to call if I have any issues.

I also asked why I feel like I am with drawing from drugs and feel so crappy. She explained to me that once my body was so used to the highs for so long that now my body is actually withdrawing from the highs and I would feel bad for a few weeks but, it would go away. Well it has not yet!!!! But, I am doing better and I am finding it alot easier to control my readings as I go.

Heres to this trying thing! I fully expect to continue to give it my all and try my best. But, I sure hope to start feeling better soon.