Thursday, January 31, 2013

Watching Over Gotham.

"What am I doing?", my endocrinologist said to herself, out loud. "This goes against all of my training! But, it's what your numbers are telling me..."

Sounds right.

It seems like my insulin needs have never quite matched up with what's considered "standard", whether it's the ratio of daily bolus to basal insulin, the increase in basal rates while I'm sleeping (my body won't even look at insulin while I'm dreaming; it's that resistant), or the number of basal rates I'm running throughout the day (they once totaled 12 rates in one day, and it worked really well at the time).

It doesn't surprise me that my endo (whom I adore - I've only had two appointments with her and I'd already like to send her a basket of puppies and chocolate, though not in the same basket because then I'm sending her a basket of dead puppies, and what the hell kind of tangent is this) is needing to do things a bit differently to keep me in range - and you know what? So far, it's working pretty well.


But while basal rate changes help, they don't do all of the work for me. I still see myself trending down several times a day, but it sort of works out for now since pregnancy has brought me a bottomless pit for a stomach. "Oh! Cool! I can eat again." But things change sporadically, randomly, and often - much like Batman watching over his beloved Gotham, I too must remain vigilantly attentive to what's going on around (and in) me.

I'm back in super-obsessive mode, which means I'm clicking the Dexcom button every few minutes (even though I know it only updates every five) and doing a finger stick about every hour and a half - but sometimes I'll get crazy and wait TWO HOURS YOU GUYS! I haven't gone through this many lancets in... ever? My fingers are losing their patience with me swiftly.

What would be reeeeeally wonderful right about now is this:


That's the Artificial Pancreas system that Tom Brobson, JDRF National Director of Research Investment Opportunities (and star of this YouTube video detailing his experience using this thing in a real-world setting) brought along with him to a JDRF breakfast here locally on Wednesday, that I felt very lucky to be able to attend. It's not perfect - no technology is - but having a system that would look out for me and minimize the highs and lows? I'd take it in a heartbeat.

Until then, I will do my throw my Bat-darts at this ever-moving target called diabetes, in the hopes that I can hit something more often than not.


10 comments:

  1. I know just what you mean about being non-responsive to insulin when sleeping (this past Monday excluded). It's like the insulin just sits there, sleeping subcutaneously, until morning. And then - BAM! - eight hours of pent-up rage bolus hits you all at once.

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  2. Pretttttttttty Dece chart ya got there.

    So you mentioned you're going lower now that you have a mini-texting on board, thats also pretty contradictory isn't it? Also I have endo envy. And chocolate and puppy basket envy.

    Which leads me to ask: How did Billy handle the news that he is going to be a big brother?

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    1. Right?

      I think it's just the first trimester-ish that the baby steals my glucose. Then the insulin resistance like whoa starts. Not looking foward to.

      I am sending you a box of truffles in my head, pronto.

      I don't think he's caught on yet, which is good, I think. :)

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    2. Hello and congratulations! I found your blog not too long ago via Six Until Me. Congratulations on your pregnancy. I have a 21 month old, and my experience with pregnancy was that the first part of the first trimester was just crazy (blood sugars up and down without much pattern), then i hit the crazy hungry and low phase you're in now and had to adjust my insulin down and/or keep snacking. I don't think it was until around 20 weeks that the insulin resistance really kicked in, which was later than I originally expected. I'm sure there's some individual variability, but I thought I'd mention that since it worried me a bit when both the low/hungry phase and the climbing insulin needs phase started later than I expected. :)

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  3. My endo's have always told me I need more insulin than other female diabetics my age/height/weight. My current I:C ratio is 1:5, which is crazy low. I read people's blogs who are like, "just ate 45 carbs and took 2 units of insulin" and I'm like, "WTH?" I would take 9 UNITS for that meal!! Anyhoo, it turns out I have also been diagnosed with PCOS, and a part of that often means insulin resistance. So, it is completely within the realm of possibility that not only do our bodies not make insulin, but they also don't use insulin efficiently. Double whammie.

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  4. 150 for a high alert.. I am impressed. We have it at 210. Now I feel lame.

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    1. Do not feel lame! You are not allowed! I have it set lower than usual due to pregnancy, and we'll see how long I can tolerate it. :)

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  5. That AP is a pretty cool device, no? I'm blown away by the intelligence harnessed to develop this too for us. Not a cure, but a big change anyway. Glad you got to see it and hear about it!

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  6. Love that your endo isn't just giving you a "standard" response and is obviously treating just you.
    Keep enjoying your pregnancy!

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  7. Seriously! I watched Tom's video in amazement and then cried. SO cool. Looking so forward to having the AP for my sweet girl. Especially can imagine the comfort and benefit of having it during pregnancy!

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