Comments on: Every Day is Different. Not Exact Science. http://www.diabetesmine.com/2008/06/every-day-is-different-not-exact-science.html A gold mine of straight talk and encouragement for people living with diabetes Mon, 13 Feb 2012 01:28:10 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Anna http://www.diabetesmine.com/2008/06/every-day-is-different-not-exact-science.html/comment-page-1#comment-43413 Anna Thu, 26 Jun 2008 10:35:30 +0000 http://www.diabetesmine.com/?p=4822#comment-43413 This happens to me almost every time I work out, too. It's so frustrating, especially if you're working out to lose weight. I'm 21, had type 1 for 2 years now, and yesterday just broke down and cried for about an hour because my blood sugars are so confusing, it seems like there's nothing I can do. And I'm majoring in biomedical engineering!! (Which ironically contributes to my horrible blood sugars - yesterday I had a final and a 20 page lab project due for my electrobiology class...) Literally I have fluctuated between 37 and 320 some days. I promise that once I'm a bona fide engineer I will try to find a solution to all this!! This happens to me almost every time I work out, too. It’s so frustrating, especially if you’re working out to lose weight. I’m 21, had type 1 for 2 years now, and yesterday just broke down and cried for about an hour because my blood sugars are so confusing, it seems like there’s nothing I can do. And I’m majoring in biomedical engineering!! (Which ironically contributes to my horrible blood sugars – yesterday I had a final and a 20 page lab project due for my electrobiology class…) Literally I have fluctuated between 37 and 320 some days. I promise that once I’m a bona fide engineer I will try to find a solution to all this!!

]]> By: AmyT http://www.diabetesmine.com/2008/06/every-day-is-different-not-exact-science.html/comment-page-1#comment-43334 AmyT Wed, 25 Jun 2008 05:53:14 +0000 http://www.diabetesmine.com/?p=4822#comment-43334 OMG, Lauren, I don't know what to say. So far, my lows have all been annoyances and disturbances, but nothing like what you describe. Despite what Melissa has experienced (above), I'm thinking a CGMS could be of help to you (?) Be careful, Girl! - AmyT OMG, Lauren, I don’t know what to say. So far, my lows have all been annoyances and disturbances, but nothing like what you describe. Despite what Melissa has experienced (above), I’m thinking a CGMS could be of help to you (?)

Be careful, Girl!

- AmyT

]]> By: Lauren http://www.diabetesmine.com/2008/06/every-day-is-different-not-exact-science.html/comment-page-1#comment-43323 Lauren Wed, 25 Jun 2008 02:42:39 +0000 http://www.diabetesmine.com/?p=4822#comment-43323 I have had similar experiences as I am sure all diabetics do. Just a few weeks ago I had an even scarier one than yours, Amy. I am living by myself this summer as I am in college and my roommates are out of town. Although I set my alarm for 7am to get up an run, I did not wake up. My sister knew I was supposed to call her at noon and when I didn't she called a friend who came over to check on me. I was unresponsive and would not eat or drink anything. The paramedics were called and I was given 2 packets of glucagon gel, a can of coke, and some crackers. 20 minutes after this my blood was 24. When they said this I just cried and cried because I knew immediately that I should not be alive - definitely was some miracle that I did not die that day. Since my sugar wouldn't rise after all of the carbs, they had to give me an IV and then it promptly rose to 124 but the medicine made me sick and I was in bed all day. I missed work and babysitting but lucikly my employers understood and were very empathetic. Being only 22 and dealing with these circumstances is extremely scary and hard and no one understands. I feel very blessed to have a wonderful family and great friends who are willing to deal with me when my blood gets low and take care of me. Ever since I was diagnosed I have not been able to recognize my lows which is another issue. I can only keep praying for a cure, as we all do. I have had similar experiences as I am sure all diabetics do. Just a few weeks ago I had an even scarier one than yours, Amy. I am living by myself this summer as I am in college and my roommates are out of town. Although I set my alarm for 7am to get up an run, I did not wake up. My sister knew I was supposed to call her at noon and when I didn’t she called a friend who came over to check on me. I was unresponsive and would not eat or drink anything. The paramedics were called and I was given 2 packets of glucagon gel, a can of coke, and some crackers. 20 minutes after this my blood was 24. When they said this I just cried and cried because I knew immediately that I should not be alive – definitely was some miracle that I did not die that day. Since my sugar wouldn’t rise after all of the carbs, they had to give me an IV and then it promptly rose to 124 but the medicine made me sick and I was in bed all day. I missed work and babysitting but lucikly my employers understood and were very empathetic. Being only 22 and dealing with these circumstances is extremely scary and hard and no one understands. I feel very blessed to have a wonderful family and great friends who are willing to deal with me when my blood gets low and take care of me. Ever since I was diagnosed I have not been able to recognize my lows which is another issue. I can only keep praying for a cure, as we all do.

]]> By: MelissaBL http://www.diabetesmine.com/2008/06/every-day-is-different-not-exact-science.html/comment-page-1#comment-43203 MelissaBL Mon, 23 Jun 2008 15:51:56 +0000 http://www.diabetesmine.com/?p=4822#comment-43203 You have totally described my typical "melissa tries to go to the gym" experience. No amount of temp basal adjustments (30%, 40%, 50%, none?) or eating (before/during/after/fasting) combinations do the same trick every time. Yesterday is not today is not tomorrow. All we can do is prepare for the worst, hope for the best...and cuss a lot. BTW, has anyone else had problems with a CGMS not being able to understand signals when around the treadmills? I've been using a loaner dexcom seven from my endo all week and every time I was too near the treadmills at the gym, I got "???" readings. Same thing happened when I stood up to sing at a microphone a few times this weekend (am a singer). My husband says it's electrostatic chatter type stuff (or something very tech-y that I'm failing to quote accurately). Just wondering if that's typical CGMS behavior before I consider spending that kind of out-of-pocket money. Thanks for the post. You have totally described my typical “melissa tries to go to the gym” experience. No amount of temp basal adjustments (30%, 40%, 50%, none?) or eating (before/during/after/fasting) combinations do the same trick every time. Yesterday is not today is not tomorrow. All we can do is prepare for the worst, hope for the best…and cuss a lot.

BTW, has anyone else had problems with a CGMS not being able to understand signals when around the treadmills? I’ve been using a loaner dexcom seven from my endo all week and every time I was too near the treadmills at the gym, I got “???” readings. Same thing happened when I stood up to sing at a microphone a few times this weekend (am a singer). My husband says it’s electrostatic chatter type stuff (or something very tech-y that I’m failing to quote accurately). Just wondering if that’s typical CGMS behavior before I consider spending that kind of out-of-pocket money.

Thanks for the post.

]]> By: AmyT http://www.diabetesmine.com/2008/06/every-day-is-different-not-exact-science.html/comment-page-1#comment-42857 AmyT Thu, 19 Jun 2008 16:51:08 +0000 http://www.diabetesmine.com/?p=4822#comment-42857 Thank you everyone -- especially Dave. You have no idea how heartening it is to talk to friends like you who "get it." Comments like yours make it all worthwhile! Thank you everyone — especially Dave. You have no idea how heartening it is to talk to friends like you who “get it.” Comments like yours make it all worthwhile!

]]> By: JuneauKimberly http://www.diabetesmine.com/2008/06/every-day-is-different-not-exact-science.html/comment-page-1#comment-42767 JuneauKimberly Wed, 18 Jun 2008 21:07:47 +0000 http://www.diabetesmine.com/?p=4822#comment-42767 I am so glad you told your story! I found so many parts of it that I could relate to... Like NOT realizing when my sugar is low...BECAUSE my brain is TOO LOW on sugar to realize it!!! Gosh, I can recall MANY times in the last 30+ years that I JUST COULD NOT FIGURE OUT that I was low... But thank GOD I know that when my thinking is "funny" that I should eat/drink whatever I have available and THEN test. I had not had a low bedtime experience until just recently. The good thing about nighttime lows is that I kick my spouse over and over in my sleep. He knows what to do and does it promptly. This has happened twice in the last two years and it scared me. Sure, I keep glucose tabs by my bedside, but when I am in a deep sleep and my sugar gets low and I DON'T wake up, then what? I feel very blessed to have someone in my lfe who knows ME and knows what to do when I am in trouble. The rest of the world DOES need better education about us. I really hate to be anywhere when I get low and need to ask for help from a stranger. I just never know if I will survive each time it happens. My heart fights while my brain feels like I am losing... I am so glad you told your story! I found so many parts of it that I could relate to… Like NOT realizing when my sugar is low…BECAUSE my brain is TOO LOW on sugar to realize it!!! Gosh, I can recall MANY times in the last 30+ years that I JUST COULD NOT FIGURE OUT that I was low… But thank GOD I know that when my thinking is “funny” that I should eat/drink whatever I have available and THEN test.

I had not had a low bedtime experience until just recently. The good thing about nighttime lows is that I kick my spouse over and over in my sleep. He knows what to do and does it promptly. This has happened twice in the last two years and it scared me. Sure, I keep glucose tabs by my bedside, but when I am in a deep sleep and my sugar gets low and I DON’T wake up, then what? I feel very blessed to have someone in my lfe who knows ME and knows what to do when I am in trouble.
The rest of the world DOES need better education about us. I really hate to be anywhere when I get low and need to ask for help from a stranger. I just never know if I will survive each time it happens. My heart fights while my brain feels like I am losing…

]]> By: Dave http://www.diabetesmine.com/2008/06/every-day-is-different-not-exact-science.html/comment-page-1#comment-42765 Dave Wed, 18 Jun 2008 20:26:50 +0000 http://www.diabetesmine.com/?p=4822#comment-42765 Dear Amy - it's posts like this one that keep me coming back to Diabetes Mine. When I read these kinds of thoughts it's like you and I are just sitting side by side talking like a couple of old friends. "Thanks" just ins't strong enough - but it'll have to do. DB Dear Amy – it’s posts like this one that keep me coming back to Diabetes Mine. When I read these kinds of thoughts it’s like you and I are just sitting side by side talking like a couple of old friends.

“Thanks” just ins’t strong enough – but it’ll have to do.

DB

]]> By: Bernard Farrell http://www.diabetesmine.com/2008/06/every-day-is-different-not-exact-science.html/comment-page-1#comment-42705 Bernard Farrell Wed, 18 Jun 2008 10:07:59 +0000 http://www.diabetesmine.com/?p=4822#comment-42705 Amen Amy. You work hard to control your diabetes so that you can have great control <i>and</i> some flexibility in your life. But don't dare take advantage of the flexibility because sometimes it will come back to bite you. The one I hate is when I go low because I've decided to play with the kids in the yard for a while. I'd give anything for a cure. But in the meantime I'd love to have insulin I could shut off or carbs that were absorbed in minutes or both! Amen Amy.

You work hard to control your diabetes so that you can have great control and some flexibility in your life. But don’t dare take advantage of the flexibility because sometimes it will come back to bite you.

The one I hate is when I go low because I’ve decided to play with the kids in the yard for a while.

I’d give anything for a cure. But in the meantime I’d love to have insulin I could shut off or carbs that were absorbed in minutes or both!

]]> By: Jef http://www.diabetesmine.com/2008/06/every-day-is-different-not-exact-science.html/comment-page-1#comment-42683 Jef Wed, 18 Jun 2008 05:11:46 +0000 http://www.diabetesmine.com/?p=4822#comment-42683 Sounds like fun...er I usually get the opposite problems with exercise myself. I can not eat, not change my basals, and run HIGH for hours after exercise followed by exciting crashes at unpredictable times. For me, it's food + insulin + normal basals or I'm doomed. Isn't this fun? :) Sounds like fun…er

I usually get the opposite problems with exercise myself. I can not eat, not change my basals, and run HIGH for hours after exercise followed by exciting crashes at unpredictable times.

For me, it’s food + insulin + normal basals or I’m doomed.

Isn’t this fun? :)

]]> By: Rachel http://www.diabetesmine.com/2008/06/every-day-is-different-not-exact-science.html/comment-page-1#comment-42656 Rachel Tue, 17 Jun 2008 23:42:22 +0000 http://www.diabetesmine.com/?p=4822#comment-42656 I know, I so know. I was just blogging on this exact same issue today. I know, I so know. I was just blogging on this exact same issue today.

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