Monthly Archive for July, 2010

I’ve spent a lot of time with fellow ‘betics lately – be it for work or other connections, I seem to have talked to a LOT of folks with Type 1 this past week.  And as usual, I thoroughly enjoyed connecting with other people who know what it’s like to deal with this %$*@ing disease all the time – but this week a new thought struck me. At the end of the day, we all still have to manage our diabetes.

Ok, ok, I know what you’re thinking – DUH Lexie – of course we all manage our disease. What I’m really saying though, is that we can share all the anecdotes in the world, exchange horror and success stories galore, and feel the big’ ole diabetes hug by jumping online at any time of day – but the bottom line is that YOU deal with the numbers on the meter, YOU dial up the pump, inject the insulin, decide to go for a run, eat the cookie, whatever. Diabetes is a ship that is sailed by only one captain. You.

Do we have support crew? You betcha – the boyfriends and girlfriends, wives, dads, siblings, best friends, CDEs – you name it – this support system is all part of successful diabetes management, and there have been times when I didn’t think I could do it without these folks. But part of what is so isolating about diabetes is the fact that there’s a war being waged in your body that you’re trying to manage with outside clues – and the pressure falls on you to take action.

I sat across the table from another person with diabetes yesterday- he pulled out his black meter case, and I pulled out mine. The conversation slowed, but didn’t stop, as we tested our respective blood sugars. We pricked, waited, and then rattled through the next steps of action in each of our brains, silently, while still talking back and forth about the non-diabetes conversation at hand. Two human computers on either side of the table, thinking tactically through management choices, calculating carbs, exercise, and correction doses tailored to the individual level, based on one slice of information in our fingerstick tests, and backed up by years of experience of living with this disease.

It’s amazing what we are capable of in our very own minds. And thank goodness we have the support system outside of our heads that are there for us when the wires seem ready to burn out.

The results are in. I had my blood draw last week in preparation for my meeting with my CDE  today, and I am so stoked and proud to say that my A1c is down to 6.3%. Boo. Ya. That my friends, is almost a full percentage point down from my last, less cute number, and I know it’s because I have been focusing on my diabetes control.

I just recently blogged about how an A1c can be a snapshot of your life – times of stress can often show a correlating rise in numbers, but what’s funny about this most recent reading is that the last three months have been some of the most stressful of my life. Moving, starting a new job, and going through some personal issues – all of that should have added up to a not-so-awesome number, as it usually has in the past.

I think there were two reasons this round showed an improvement though: the first is sheer focus and effort, spurred by my last check-in and a general disappointment with where my BGs were. The second though, is the fact that my job has become so diabetes focused, it would be damn near impossible not to pay laser-focused attention to my diabetes all day. When I’m constantly whipping out my CGM while discussing diabetes with my customers, it’s an extra reminder that the big D is there. How can you not wonder about the usefulness of square wave boluses when it was the topic of your morning appointment? I know I’ve blogged before about “all diabetes, all the time” being a bit of a burnout, but the fact of the matter is it’s made the ‘betes top of mind like never before – and my A1c shows it!

Off to the CDE to ask him what the good word of diabetes management is today! Happy Monday folks!