4 days of insulin

Chris, asked. And I can't ignore an invitation. When I arrived at the nurse's office for my education (let's call her the DE for diabetes educator) she asked me what kind of insulin and how much I was taking. I shrugged and said, " I thought I was here so you could tell me that." Apparently the doctor hadn't forwarded the information to the DE. She proceeded to talk to for a while about type 1.5, about diet, about all kinds of interesting things, but nothing that I came for.

Unable to stand the thought of wasting this meeting I finally said,"Maybe if you call the doctor we could find out what the scoop is on my insulin." It took her ten minutes to find my doctor in her system, but amazingly the got through and got her question answered in one short call. They never answer my questions that fast. So we got through all the training. Even though I've given myself shots before, I still cringed a bit at the idea. I definitely did played some mind games to keep my focus on what was important and to try and avoid the dreaded,"Poor me" syndrome.

I did learn useful things at that meeting besides the reminder on shots. She finally confirmed for me that prior to my period, my hormones cause my blood sugar to raise (and to think of all this time of the month would cause me because I didn't know why my period would cause skyrocketing blood sugar). I have a better, more informed understanding of the meds I take and have taken. I learned, that normally after a meal as your blood sugar starts to come down the liver will start making sugar to keep you from having lows. I honestly thought diabetes was all about the pancreas and the insulin. I didn't know the liver plays a part. I still have some questions to ask, because now that I am home, I can't put all the pieces together. Maybe when I understand, I'll explain it you.

I do like working with RNs, meeting are usually at an hour long, and they are so personal and friendly. You can't get a doctor to personally return a phone call much less spend an hour discussing your health with you. Plus I had to fill out a really long questionnaire about my health and diet. It's a pain, but so worth the time. I've done these questionnaires at least 6 times. But recording what you eat and the exact amount is so informative and for me, motivating. I wish you could do it and then go to the nutritionist too--you'd learn so much. My appointment with the nutritionist is tomorrow. I do tend to eat better when I have to write down each morsel so to balance it out, I've learned to write in some of the no-nos (you know the M&Ms or the diet pop)I eat if I eat perfectly for a day. I want a plan I can live with. No more diets with unsweetened ketchsup and zero pasta for me.

After being at the DE, I suspected the doctor had also failed to call the insulin into the pharmacy. So I called her office and made the request. I went and picked up the insulin, but the doctor forgot to call in a prescription for the needles. So I had to go home and call again. By this time, I was irritated. Why do I have to everything myself? When I went to pick up the needles, they were out of the size my doctor ordered. I literally collapses with a loud groan on the counter. The pharmacist had anticipated this (I've seen her a lot lately so she's familiar with my talkative nature) and had called my doctor and gotten permission for the shorter needles. And actually these make more sense for me as there isn't too much fat tissue the needle needs to penetrate.

I still need to sit down with the doctor and the pharmacist though. While my numbers on this insulin are nothing short of beautiful my monthly pharmacy bill has shot up from $11 three months ago to $105, even with good insurance. The doctor prescribed an insulin pen and I wonder if make my own shots if I can get the cost down. I still take two oral meds and one of them isn't available in generic form yet .(Greta--do you still read this blog? how long before a medicine goes generic?)

I take a long lasting insulin called Lantis so I only administer one shot right before bed. I don't really need the convenience of a pen at that point of the day.
Now with insulin I do have to count my carbs more closely. Before I only made sure I didn't eat too many carbs. I never experienced lows. But now, to control my sugars, I need insulin. Insulin can create some lows. A couple times in the last few days I haven't eaten enough carbs. And then the strange woozy feeling and the shaking starts. It's scared me to the point of not allowing myself to sleep until Tom gets home, but I know the feeling now. And I know what to do---eat!

I try to remember to be thankful. Diabetes a century ago was a death sentence. Even though I wish I could just eat and not think so hard about what I ingest, this disease is partially under my control (Gotta love the irony since part of what I've learned being diabetic is how to trust God when I am not in control). I've also learned that in the world of disease, you have to fight for yourself. Much of the medical field is so busy getting through the appointments that they don't pay close attention to the non-urgent details.