tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-124502122024-03-26T00:15:25.495-07:00The 'betesI'm a 25 year old Chicagoan and I've got the 'betes.Tekakwithahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09064530137595029216noreply@blogger.comBlogger99125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12450212.post-83965414860708769552007-10-01T07:53:00.000-07:002007-10-01T08:00:32.886-07:00Some obvious statements and some updatesObvious:<br /><br /><ul><li>I'm no longer terribly interested in blogging about my diabetes. I'm doing just find on that front, and since I'm not much of a writer I don't feel compelled to update the blog just for the sake of writing. I do, however, continue to read and enjoy a bunch of my favorite D blogs, so keep writing!<br /></li></ul>Updates:<br /><ul><li>I started a new blog! It's a cooking blog where I'll post pictures and recipes. I just started it. Check it out if you'd like at <a href="http://cookinghussy.wordpress.com/">cookinghussy.wordpress.com</a></li></ul>Tekakwithahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09064530137595029216noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12450212.post-24297613613019942462007-01-11T06:51:00.000-08:002008-12-09T14:39:40.902-08:00An imageThere is something about an image. How motivational can an image, or multiple images, be? Apparently, very motivating.<br /><br />I discovered Kevin's logbook via Scott's blog. There was a post that included a snap shot of one day. I saw that logbook and thought "oh the order!". There is a spot for everything I want to make note of. It's on the computer, which is much more likely to get filled out than anything on paper. Ther is a graph. Oh my god I love graphs. And weekly averages? And WEEKEND averages? And standard deviation!<br /><br />The best part about it is that I didn't have to do any of the work to put together what seems to be the perfect log (for me anyway). Thank you to Kevin, Scott and the multiple others that were involved with figuring it out.<br /><br />Now that I see what happens when I eat healthy, when I eat pizza, when I eat that stupid muffin, when I leave a site in too long... I can make a change. I can see that everyday, around 11:00 am, I'm dropping. Every. Single. Day. Why didn't I see this before? Because I didn't have this handy graph to show me!<br /><br />And now, I can have days like this:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfVIsoIKqRRCpWwOfamB5CkT6MTolNBcW7_kuA8CHneZ8KZPHk6du8ATV02DgAC7VccRsuUejDDeT5dTHFdRJ6v5q5cc3zHsv1RCMvPsoFnQ1_ZdjvHGgIAD2-RtdH0xspfrkO/s1600-h/Logbook.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfVIsoIKqRRCpWwOfamB5CkT6MTolNBcW7_kuA8CHneZ8KZPHk6du8ATV02DgAC7VccRsuUejDDeT5dTHFdRJ6v5q5cc3zHsv1RCMvPsoFnQ1_ZdjvHGgIAD2-RtdH0xspfrkO/s320/Logbook.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5018788392133870050" border="0" /></a>Tekakwithahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09064530137595029216noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12450212.post-17378067485671622662006-12-20T08:04:00.000-08:002006-12-20T08:15:14.101-08:00Posting Just to Post* Christmas is right around the corner. All my gifts are purchased and I have successfully stayed within my modest budget. My family keeps growing (boyfriends/girlfriends and kids) that is soon going to be time to picking names to buy ONE person a gift, not everyone.<br /><br />* The boy is coming home with me for the holidays. He's looking forward to it, which I think is cute and possibly a lie. But a lie I'm willing to pretend to believe.<br /><br />* I have four people (two couples) staying in my apartment for two days around New Years. That's not including my roommates and their possible guests. In years past, our apartment has been known as the flop house. A nice, clean flophouse, but a flophouse none the less. It's going to be crowded.<br /><br />* I still have diabetes. My blood sugar still <span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">fluctuates</span>. I still get annoyed with it sometimes. I still just continue to maintain. I have an endocrinologist appointment on January 3rd, which will be fun right after the holidays.<br /><br />* I start my first class for grad school on January 3rd. It's barely crossed my mind.<br /><br />* My sister is pregnant with her second baby and due February 28<span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">th</span>. I'm planning a baby shower for late January. I'm not great with planning these sorts of things, but the invitations are out.Tekakwithahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09064530137595029216noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12450212.post-24502992409043172672006-11-29T10:55:00.000-08:002006-11-29T11:06:13.746-08:00Sailing alongI made it through Thanksgiving just fine, thank you! The boy and I headed down to Texas where the majority of his immediate family live (Houston). Spent Thanksgiving eating the usual fare of turkey, ham, green beans, rolls, potatoes... and about 5 pies. Amazingly, I used a much smaller amount of insulin that day (17 units) than my normal days (25-30). I think I was focusing so much on not going overboard that I steered clear of a lot of the heavy <span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">carb</span> stuff, just having tastes of everything. Not bad! And the blood sugar was just lovely.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/6564/1519/1600/925189/sunrise.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 286px; height: 215px;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/6564/1519/320/461773/sunrise.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Then we headed for the coast. A couple of rented condos on North Padre Island awaited us. I ran along the beach, swam in the ocean, relaxed in a giant hot tub and watched the sunrise.<br /><br />I spent time getting to know the boy's family a bit more as well, which was nice.<br /><br />And on Saturday afternoon we drove into Corpus Christi, pulled up to a dock with hundreds of sailboats, from the tiny to the giant, the slow to the fast, and stepped on a 40 foot sail boat.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/6564/1519/1600/388432/sailboat.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/6564/1519/320/476955/sailboat.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />And I sailed (for about 2 minutes until I demanded the captain take over again. Those things are hard! The wind resistance is no joke!)<br /><br />Do you see the two people in the background laughing? That's the captain and a student, laughing at me. And see how it's all tipped sideways? I'm trying to stand on that thing AND sail. Luckily I didn't break anything or run into any other boats.Tekakwithahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09064530137595029216noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12450212.post-84589266842006679252006-11-20T13:18:00.000-08:002006-11-20T13:21:35.073-08:00Roller Coaster<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/6564/1519/1600/242978/hair.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/6564/1519/320/639798/hair.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Nothing I like more than heading into the holidays on a roller coaster of blood sugars.<br /><br />Gah!Tekakwithahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09064530137595029216noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12450212.post-1163081665157600532006-11-09T06:13:00.000-08:002006-11-09T06:14:25.173-08:00Within the past three yearsWithin the past three years I’ve…<br /><br />Moved to a new city<br /><br />Discovered a career I enjoy<br /><br />Gotten into heated debates about important things and irrational arguments over the inconsequential<br /><br />Received a promotion<br /><br />Laughed<br /><br />Watched my nephew grow<br /><br />Became close friends with my brother who was also my roommate for 2.5 of those years<br /><br />Learned to drive a stick shift<br /><br />Met a man that I care for deeply<br /><br />Applied for a graduate program and been accepted<br /><br />Made friends that I’ll have for life<br /><br />Worried<br /><br />Brewed 8 batches of homebrew (silly, but I’m so proud)<br /><br />Held my hand on my sister’s belly, hoping to feel her second baby kick<br /><br />Become a runner (of sorts)<br /><br />Cried<br /><br />Been comforted<br /><br />Watched the events of the world unfold and done my best to make a difference<br /><br />Celebrated weddings with old friends and new<br /><br />Been hopeful<br /><br />Within the past three years I’ve lived with type 1 diabetes. Here’s to the day that I can put down a finite number of years I’ve lived with this disease.Tekakwithahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09064530137595029216noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12450212.post-1162936479723450652006-11-07T13:51:00.000-08:002006-11-07T13:54:39.760-08:00Breaking News on Election Day: CNN is HorribleIt's election day. I've already voted and I'm trying to concentrate on NOT checking multiple web sites all day long for any glimmer of outcome while at work. But I'm obviously failing.<br /><br />I click onto CNN to see in the BIG red banner at the top: BREAKING NEWS: Britney Spears Files for Divorce from Husband Kevin Federline<br /><br />Seriously? Breaking news on election day is about a stupid celebrity couple divorcing? I'm so disgusted.Tekakwithahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09064530137595029216noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12450212.post-1162584026528078962006-11-03T11:56:00.000-08:002006-11-03T12:00:26.550-08:00Cooking up a... well, you know.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3077/1056/1600/cooking%20up%20a%20storm.13.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3077/1056/320/cooking%20up%20a%20storm.13.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>Tekakwithahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09064530137595029216noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12450212.post-1162571740857575132006-11-03T08:25:00.000-08:002006-11-03T08:35:40.890-08:00Girls NightWhile chatting with my friend K the other day on email, I brought up my interest in knowing more about her job. She suggested we meet up for drinks or dinner to chat about it. I thought that a couple other of our friends would be interested as well. It spiraled from there and now I have 5 girl friends coming over tonight for wine, cheese and other appetizers. I so rarely do the all girls stuff, I'd much rather just go out with all my friends, guys or girls. But I'm really looking forward to our girls night tonight. Since the boy moved to Chicago I've been trying to figure out how to spend the time that I want with my friends as well. It's hard to have enough time in the day to do everything I want with everyone I enjoy. So if it takes a girls night to see my friends, so be it.<br /><br />I'll bring the prosseco, cheese and gossip.<br /><br />And the boy? Tonight the boy is going to meet up with some of my guy friends, who he is slowly getting to know and like. Drinks some beer, play some video games etc. <br /><br />If I wasn't so excited to see my girl friends, I'd be sooo grossed out by myself right now. *sigh* Does this mean I'm getting older, that I have to schedule time with girl friends?<br /><br />On another note, I've been trying to post a picture of my Halloween costume, but stupid blogger hasn't let me yet. I'll keep trying though.Tekakwithahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09064530137595029216noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12450212.post-1162402392581927682006-11-01T09:29:00.000-08:002006-11-01T09:33:12.600-08:00Snowboarding + Pump = Disaster?I need some help. I'm headed to Colorado for a few days and our plans involve snowboarding. I've never done any down hill anything and am thinking I'd like to try. I know that I'll be falling almost as soon as I attempt to stand on the board, so what to do about the pump? How do I keep it dry and unbroken? How do I protect my site? Is there anyway or do I try to go without for the afternoon? I've never done anything like this so any advice is appreciated.<br /><br />Help!Tekakwithahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09064530137595029216noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12450212.post-1161611444835138282006-10-23T06:43:00.000-07:002006-10-23T06:50:44.853-07:00Bunny HopWhen the boy moved to Chicago, his lovely little Honda Civic came with him. He's been chauffeuring me all over in this cute little reliable car since he moved here in August. Why? Because I don't know how to drive a stick shift. Or I didn't until yesterday.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3077/1056/1600/shift.0.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3077/1056/320/shift.0.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Finding an empty parking lot in Chicago is not an easy task. Finally I thought of a big high school with a decent sized parking lot that would likely be empty on a Sunday afternoon. It was. It even had a few speed bumps. <br /><br />I've been so nervous about learning this. I don't own a car so I never drive. The last time I've driving was probably when I was home for Christmas last year. And before that? Who knows. So not only was I nervous about learning this new technique, I was also nervous about getting behind the wheel again period (of the boy's lovely little car no less!). <br /><br />I get behind the wheel. Pull the seat WAY forward so as to push the clutch all the way to the floor. And then we're off. And I *wasn't that bad*! Granted, we had a few bunny hops (as the boy referred to them) and I certainly stalled the car a few times, but over all I got the hang of it.<br /><br />Now it's on to the streets. Of Chicago. *ahem*<br /><br />Stop. 1st gear. Stall. *HONK* repeat.Tekakwithahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09064530137595029216noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12450212.post-1161202920932015292006-10-18T13:11:00.000-07:002006-10-18T13:22:00.946-07:00The double checkLast Sunday I was sitting down to breakfast after a friend's wedding in the Amana Colonies in Iowa. I was at 98 upon waking up and hadn't eaten anything or taken any insulin. It was about 2 hours after waking up that I check my blood sugar again before eating. 354.<br /><br />First it's the wave of anger. OVER 300?! How is that even possible?!<br /><br />Second is the wave of disappointment. I must have done something wrong. Did I eat something that I'm not remembering? Miss a bolus?<br /><br />Third is the doubt. The doubt hit me when I was just about ready to press the ACT button, sending way too many units of insulin into my system to correct the high and cover my meal. The doubt stuck. I hit escape and licked my finger. Did that taste sweet? I check another finger and ring in at a lovely 94.<br /><br />Fourth is the relief. Oh man that could have been bad. But it wasn't because I caught it just in time. <br /><br />In other news: I've decided to drive back home to surprise my sister for her 30th birthday party next weekend. It's a Halloween theme so I'm thinking of a costume that'll be better than Velma from last year. And the boy has to think of one too. I came up with an idea and shared it with my dad, who thought it was the funniest thing in the world (it's not, it's actually kind of silly). <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3077/1056/1600/storm.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3077/1056/320/storm.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>I'm going to dress as a chef, with an apron and a chef hat. Then I'm going to carry around a mixing bowl with a spoon in it and it will be filled with little cotton ball clouds, lightning bolts, rain drops, tornadoes etc. I'll be cooking up a storm....<br /><br />Ba dum CHING!Tekakwithahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09064530137595029216noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12450212.post-1160668022848070602006-10-12T08:36:00.000-07:002006-10-12T08:47:02.850-07:00Snow!I love the fall. I love the changing leaves and running through the dry crunchy ones on the sidewalk. I love the smell and the pumpkins on doorsteps. I love curling up under my big comforter when I go to bed without getting too hot. I love a nice hot to-go cup of coffee keeping me warm on my way to work. I love the anticipation of the holidays, the family visits, the food!<br /><br />But it snowed this morning. October 12. Snow. Wind chill: 22 degrees. *ahem*<br /><br />It sure looked beautiful, but I'm not ready yet! Give me my fall back!Tekakwithahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09064530137595029216noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12450212.post-1159903314913517602006-10-03T12:10:00.000-07:002006-10-03T12:21:55.516-07:00Why oh Why Have I Waited So Long!?I have used an One Touch Ultra Smart meter since the day I was diagnosed in April of 2004. About a year ago I switched to the Multi Clix lancet, which is lovely. But I've never even thought about changing meters, mostly because my pharmacy would automatically mail me test strips for this meter every 3 months, and I was too lazy to change.<br /><br />But at my last endocrinologist appointment (which went well) I asked my doctor for a script for the FreeStyle Flash and strips. Oh. My. God. After opening the package yesterday I just kind of stood there with this tiny thing in my hand and thought "I'm an idiot." I'm so behind the game it's embarrassing. Just the tiniest drop of blood is all it needs. It fits in my cute little kit much better than the giant Ultra Smart. And that little light at the end that shines on the test strip? Ingenious. <br /><br />And now for something completely different: the eye sight in my left eye is getting worse. I wear contacts. I don't have terrible eye sight, but things are fuzzy if I don't wear them. But lately I've been noticing the fuzziness in my left eye when I'm wearing my contacts. It's time for my annual eye exam, so I've got an appointment in two weeks. *sigh* I'm going to just assume that it's normal, not diabetes related. But it still makes me nervous.Tekakwithahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09064530137595029216noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12450212.post-1158156042241944502006-09-13T06:47:00.000-07:002006-09-13T07:00:42.826-07:00Deadlines<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3077/1056/1600/clock-500.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3077/1056/320/clock-500.png" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />I work as a grants manager for a non-profit in Chicago. I've been in this position for about 2.5 months. Yesterday I faced my first scary deadline. With a $69,000 proposal due at 5:00 downtown, I finished printing and making the copies at 4:15. This is not how I function. EVER. Never ever ever do I wait for the last minute. But things happen and there I was, sweating it out all afternoon hoping that I'd get that damn thing in on time. And I did. 4:59 p.m. It's written on my receipt. *gasp*<br /><br />But then I went to job number 2 and got to help make hummus, tabouli, and baklava. Have you ever seen what's in baklava? Phillo dough, butter, phillo dough, butter, phillo dough (etc), yummy nutty mixture in the middle, more phillo dough and butter. Bake. And the finishing touch (and the part that makes it absolutely inedible for me) is the syrup. Sugar and honey. A lot of it. Intense. But the boy was able to attend class and enjoy it all, which was fun.<br /><br />I rolled into my apartment around 11:15, drank a porter (homebrew), and crawled into bed. I'm still tired this morning, but there are worse things in the world. Like baklava.Tekakwithahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09064530137595029216noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12450212.post-1157643094620223122006-09-07T08:18:00.000-07:002006-09-07T08:37:12.570-07:00The Tipping PointI feel like I reach a tipping point with my diabetes management every once in a while. I'll be going along fine, not thinking about it too much, but just enough, and then something happens and all the sudden every blood sugar over 200 shows my complete and utter failure at carb counting. Ever low shows my recklessness. And every roller coaster day leaves me grumpy and pissed off and amazed that I ever have a blood sugar that's in range for more than, oh, a minute or two.<br /><br />I'm at that point right now. It may be due to my new and improved excel sheet. I've entered all my lab reports, all my insurance claims, all my hospital bills and I'm starting to enter all my highs/lows with the date and time so that I can more accurately see when my basal or bolus rates may need adjusting. And oh man, that never makes you feel good about your management. Seeing all those too big or too small numbers, all smashed together. <br /><br />Add in that on Thursday night I went out for Thai food with the boy, ordered cashew chicken and said "this tastes much sweeter than any cashew chicken I've had before, do you think so?" He said yes but cautioned me to not over bolus since we didn't actually know how sweet it was. I could always correct later. And boy howdy did I. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3077/1056/1600/cashew.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3077/1056/320/cashew.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>After a heated argument about where some plastic bins of clothes should be placed (about 2 hours after eating) I checked my blood sugar. It sucks to have to say "sorry, I really don't care where you put those, but my high blood sugar must REALLLLY hate where YOU want to put them..." So I corrected and crossed off 'cashew chicken' on the take out menu we brought home. Who wants sweet cashew chicken anyway?Tekakwithahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09064530137595029216noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12450212.post-1157036467865792622006-08-31T07:47:00.000-07:002006-08-31T08:02:14.100-07:00ArrivalAnd he's here. After a 3 1/2 hour wait on the runway at Midway on Thursday night due to weather in Mpls, everything went smoothly (sort of). Friday morning we were up early to get the giant moving truck with a tow to haul his car. Loaded everything, gulped down a gatorade to combat the expected low (I tried to preempt this with a lower basal, but alas, not enough), and we were on the road by noon. The biggest argument we had on the trip was about which flavor blizzard to get at Dairy Queen. We ended up with reeses peanut butter cup. Good choice by the way. <br /><br />We spent the weekend with my family and had so much fun. My nephew is the most amazing boy ever (seriously). He now has a sense of humor and likes to make up words. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3077/1056/1600/tea%20party.2.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3077/1056/320/tea%20party.2.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>We played ball, made a train, had a tea party and fed ducks. I sat down in questionable grass (read: grass surely covered in duck poop) just because he was and he asked me to join him. Well of COURSE I will! My sister and her husband delighted in telling me that, while in the car on the way to see the ducks, he said "Where is Uncle Chris?". Oh boy, not quite yet there nephew! See that humor I mentioned?<br /><br />We ate steak and corn and pumpkin pie and my grandma's fabulous cinnamon rolls (which she left unfrosted for me, thanks Grandma!). Sunday morning we hit the road to Chicago, paid what felt like a million dollars in toll fare, and made it safely. Unloaded the truck in time to enjoy some thai food before watching the season finale of Deadwood. Best. Sunday. Night. Ever.<br /><br />And tonight I help him move into his new place (which he hasn't even SEEN yet, since I helped find it with one of my friends). Frozen pizza and beer will follow I'm sure. <br /><br />It's only been a few days, but damn, this is fun.Tekakwithahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09064530137595029216noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12450212.post-1156342389253192602006-08-23T07:01:00.000-07:002006-08-23T07:13:09.670-07:00Re-LurkingI know there is such a thing as 'de-lurking', but what about re-lurking? I feel as if that's what I have been doing for the past few months. I've fallen back into just reading and enjoying other people's blogs. What amazes me is the wide scope of blogs that are now on my list. I'm reading about people trying to get pregnant and people giving birth as well as reading about people's vacations and brushes with fame. And I feel so connected to all these people and their lives that they are sharing with the world. It's an amazing little blogging world I stepped into, and for now I'm really enjoying being a lurker (for the most part).<br /><br />As far as my own 'betes news, there's not much to say. Not too many lows, probably too many highs, but nothing earth shattering or completely scary. I'm still fighting with my insurance company to get them to pay for 'betes supplies from February 2005 as well as from my one weeks use of the CGMS. I'm still jogging on a regular basis and am the same ideal weight I've been for about a year or more now. And hopefully I'd learn that my A1c is right where it should be at my doctors appointment in September. Same old same old.<br /><br />Tomorrow I fly to Minneapolis to collect my guy. We'll pack up, have lunch with his dad then drive to my hometown to visit my family. Sunday we'll head to Chicago and then we'll attempt to not kill each other while getting used to living in the same city. <br /><br />So then. Back to lurking.Tekakwithahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09064530137595029216noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12450212.post-1151415444363539492006-06-27T06:32:00.000-07:002006-06-27T06:39:57.716-07:00I am...I am excited about my newly purchased pouch for my meter, lancet and test strips.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3077/1056/1600/newkit.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3077/1056/320/newkit.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />I am appreciative of the hard work my brother’s girlfriend put into creating my beautiful new medical id bracelet.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3077/1056/1600/New%20id.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3077/1056/320/New%20id.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3077/1056/1600/New%20id%20back.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3077/1056/320/New%20id%20back.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />I am nervous about my new position of Grants Manager, which starts July 1st and brings with it unknown challenges (as well as known benefits including a bit of a pay raise).<br /><br />I am delighted that in 52 days I can stop saying ‘long distance’ in front of ‘boyfriend’.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3077/1056/1600/chriskateri.jpg"><img sstyle="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3077/1056/320/chriskateri.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />I am feeling fit and thinking of setting a goal.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3077/1056/1600/10k.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3077/1056/320/10k.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />I am happy for my blogging friends for the new developments in their <a href="http://sixuntilme.com">personal</a> and <a href="http://www.diabetesmine.com/">diabetic</a> lives.<br /><br />I am proud of my blogging friends for continuing to be open and honest about the highs and lows of diabetes and life in general.<br /><br />I am in awe of my <a href="http://www.bluetights.net/">cousin</a> and can’t wait to stand in line with all the comic book fanatics tonight to see the movie. Now people will know, it’s Routh like South.<br /><br />I am, for the moment, quite happy.Tekakwithahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09064530137595029216noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12450212.post-1149267056492092062006-06-02T09:44:00.001-07:002006-06-02T09:50:56.520-07:00Help with endurance runningI've been working out 3-4 times a week for a few months now. I've been jogging outside for about a month, alternating between that and the gym. I've recently become much more interested in jogging longer distances and amounts of time but I've run into a problem of figuring out how to do that with the 'betes.<br /><br />I can get my bs up to about 160-180 before hand and after 30-40 minutes I'm down to around 80-100. I want to run longer but I don't want to have my bs higher than that when I start. Any advice? Any good sites/blogs that talk about carrying your meter and snacks? What carbs work the best? Should I be changing my daily diet to be eating more complex carbs?<br /><br />Let me know if anyone has any info or sites (or books, how old fashioned!) they recommend.Tekakwithahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09064530137595029216noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12450212.post-1149267055632911652006-06-02T09:44:00.000-07:002006-06-02T09:54:29.826-07:00Help with endurance runningI've been working out 3-4 times a week for a few months now. I've been jogging outside for about a month, alternating between that and the gym. I've recently become much more interested in jogging longer distances and amounts of time but I've run into a problem of figuring out how to do that with the 'betes.<br /><br />I can get my bs up to about 160-180 before hand and after 30-40 minutes I'm down to around 80-100. I want to run longer but I don't want to have my bs higher than that when I start. Any advice? Any good sites/blogs that talk about carrying your meter and snacks? What carbs work the best? Should I be changing my daily diet to be eating more complex carbs?<br /><br />Let me know if anyone has any info or sites (or books, how old fashioned!) they recommend.Tekakwithahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09064530137595029216noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12450212.post-1146772349723697312006-05-04T12:45:00.000-07:002006-05-04T12:52:29.756-07:00BusyI've been so busy for the past few weeks. Months? It's a fun busy though, so I don't mind.<br /><br />Update on The Bill. I talked to my insurance (*ppbbtt*!). And then I talked to my doctor and CDE and *thank goodness* I'm not going to get that bill. They're going to hassle my insurance company for me and if that fails, she's going to honor the price she told me (cheap). I hope I never have to find a new doctor and CDE. <br /><br />In other news, my first 5k was a failure. At 7:00 a.m. last Sunday I was standing at the front window with my brother, who was planning on running with me, watching it rain. We saw a man walking on the sidewalk wearing running shoes and a plastic bag over himself (makeshift rain coat!). He was walking to the race! We should go too and brave the rain! Then we SAW HIM TURN AROUND AND WALK BACK! We decided against it. Another day. Another time.<br /><br />Things I'm looking forward to:<br /><br />- Minneapolis this weekend (and always, August, when he moves to Chicago)<br />- Trip to cabins in Iowa to spend a weekend with my family (Mom, Dad, Older sister & her husband and son, younger sister, older brother and his girlfriend and my guy and me). That's next weekend.<br />- Summer. Pools. Amusement parks. Picnics. Bocce ball. White wine in my back yard on a lovely afternoon while reading and watching my tomatoes grow.<br />- Did I mention August?<br /><br />Back to work.Tekakwithahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09064530137595029216noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12450212.post-1146232263637862832006-04-28T06:47:00.000-07:002006-04-28T06:51:03.780-07:00Insurance helpSo last night I got home to a $947.00 bill from my endocrinologist. My insurance doesn't want to pay it since it was for my time meeting with the CDE about the CGMS. <br /><br />I need help. I feel like there is an efficient and effective way to talk to insurance companies about this and I haven't the slightest idea how to do it. Do I just call in? Do I write a letter? Do I call and write? Do I call my doctor and have them call the insurance company? Do I have my doctor write a letter about the necessity? I looked on JDRF's site and found nothing of this sort.<br /><br />I work for a non-profit. I'm so very close to paying off my hospital stay... from two years ago. I don't make enough money to pay this off and REALLY don't want to. I realize that the insurance company may not pay for it in the end anyway, but I'd like to do all I can to try. Please give me any and all advice you have!<br /><br />Thanks.Tekakwithahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09064530137595029216noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12450212.post-1146144142403957572006-04-27T06:22:00.000-07:002006-04-27T06:22:22.403-07:00Two years today.Tekakwithahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09064530137595029216noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12450212.post-1145469789707887342006-04-19T10:49:00.001-07:002006-04-19T11:03:16.863-07:00Jumping on the bandwagon: Hypos without Symptoms!It's not really bandwagon I wanted to jump on, but there it is. After reading Kerri's scary post I decided to post about my recent (albeit not nearly as low or eventful) hypo without symptoms.<br /><br />This past weekend I was in Minneapolis with my boy. We had gone out for a couple drinks with friends on Friday night after a quick bit to eat. We get back to his apartment and decided that leftovers sound perfect. We share half of my left over quesadilla while chatting. About an hour later we're both ready for sleep and I grab my meter to do the before sleep check. 44. Huh? I almost check it again before I realize that there's not much time for rechecking, even though I FEEL NOTHING. I tell him I need some juice to drink, and we both head to the fridge to forage for a sugar filled liquid. I grab a capri sun and drink. I'm sitting on his bed, tears streaming down my face, eating a peanut butter cracker, with him sitting next to me trying to comfort me, more bewildered than anything.<br /><br />Since we are in a long distance relationship, he hasn't ever seen me in a panicky low situation. And this was especially panicky for me since it was my first hypo without symptoms. I'm not too worried about it now, but if it happens again I will be.<br /><br />In other news, I just got a note from my insurance company that they aren't going to cover a $1,000 bill from my endocrinologist. It was from the appointment I had with my CDE about testing out the CGMS. Both her and I assumed that they would reject covering the two sensors, but not the appointment cost. I've yet to get a bill from her though, so I hope she's trying her hardest to hassle them into payment. Otherwise... I don't know. I should start playing the lottery.<br /><br />Finally, in happy news, I went on a 3 mile run around a beautiful lake in Minneapolis with my boy on Saturday morning. I'm offically ready for my first 5k at the end of April!Tekakwithahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09064530137595029216noreply@blogger.com3