Tag: doctors

Useless Information

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Another frustrating day with the med staff… another day without answers.

I knew going into today’s appointment that it wouldn’t be as productive because I was out of town last week, eating Lord knows what. Plus I’ve been sick for the last 4 days, which doesn’t give me much blood sugar street cred. Of course, my endo only downloads the last week and a half of blood sugar readings from my pump.

The reaction I get?

“Wow… your blood sugars are all over the place. Hm. There is no pattern to anything at all. You are just high everywhere. Except for last Saturday. If you could repeat Saturday forever, it’d be all good. Keep working with your CDE to figure it out.”

That’s it?

Seriously?!

“Oh – and don’t have kids yet. And stop eating rice.”

<sigh>

At the rate I’m going, I’m not going to have kids period.

Thanks… Merci… Gracias… Mahalo… Danke… Grazie…

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It’s Thanksgiving here in the states. It falls into one of the holidays I have a love/hate relationship with. Love hanging around my family and friends during an extended weekend… then using the weekend to dig out my Christmas decor. Hate that it’s all centralized around food and no matter how diligent I am, I still end up with highs off the charts at all hours of the evening. Since my blood sugars have been FANTASTIC for the last few days, with a few blips here and there, I’m trying to devise a plan that doesn’t center around the appetizer table. And maybe I will skip the mashed potatoes this year.

But, let’s not talk about food anymore because I’m sure I’ll be guiltily enjoying a piece of pumpkin pie later despite my best efforts.

What I am thankful for, instead, is the following:

1) Medical technology that allows me to eat said pie. And the medical insurance to allow me to purchase said medical technology. I know it’s not great right now, but at least I have it.

2) A wonderful support network. Since I started this blog and shared it with a limited audience of IRL friends, I’m thankful that a number of them have taken a greater interest in my journey, struggles, and successes. (Probably now that they understand it more.) I can continue the conversation offline with a couple of them and grateful for that added personal support. (Yes, that includes the hubs, but that’s kind of a given since he sees me the most.)

3) My fellow D-readers, who I don’t know in real life, but they offer insight in their own blogs, and sometimes share it on mine. For only having the blog for a month, I’ve already got a pretty good network established.

4) A new team of doctors. And a new diabetes educator that reassured me that I am doing fantastic and only need a “tune up” to get me where I need to be for next year. Let’s hope this move to the new hospital (and insurance) continues to be worth the hassle in funding and paperwork.
Happy Thanksgiving all!

An Anamoly

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Well kids, I’ve stumped another diabetes professional. That increases my count to about 5 people that really have no idea what to suggest to help me counteract the extreme postprandial readings I experience, mostly after breakfast and lunch.

Backstory: I’m not a textbook diabetic. I’m sure many people can argue this, but really. I’m so not! It’s not that I’m insulin resistant – it’s just that the meds that are supposed to peak at 15-30 minutes usually peak at an hour instead. Thus resulting in an epic spike an hour to two hours post meal, and then an epic drop to normalcy around the three hour mark. This of course hurts my chances of ever maintaining a controlled rise. My doctors have tried cocktails of insulins to try and counter the spikes, which typically only left me crawling on the floor asking for juice to pick me up from hypoglycemia. But – perinatal docs all want me to have my postprandials at 120-140 during pregnancy… which is my struggle.

So today I saw a dietitian that specializes in mostly GD, but also works with T1s and T2s during pregnancy. I figured she’d have a better idea or different suggestions on how to get her patients to stop spiking.

Our conversation went like this:

Me: So I have been micromanaging my eating habits and blood sugars lately and I’m not seeing a difference. I’ve got dinner down, but breakfast is hell. I’ve tried just about everything humanly possible with the exception of starving myself.”

D: Well, maybe you shouldn’t have any milk or dairy at breakfast.

Me: I don’t.

D: Well, have you tried complex carbs and under 30 grams.

Me: I have. Sometimes I just have 15 grams.

D: Are you consuming about 8-10 grams of protein as well?

Me: Sometimes more. I was given a rule of thumb to try a 1:2 ratio between protein:carbs.

D: And you still spike?

Me: Every time.

D: …

Me: …

D: I have no idea. Maybe you should talk to your endocrinologist.

Me: <ragequit>

I’ll give it to her though. At least she’s being honest and was extremely happy that I’m trying to figure out what the hell is going on BEFORE we start trying to throw pregnancy into the loop. But as a dietitian  she couldn’t really advise me to increase my already, crazy high, insulin ratios. (1:4 most times of the day.) And bonus – apparently this clinic appointment was 100% covered by my insurance so I didn’t need a co-pay to get more non-answers.

However, I apparently gave my perinatal the impression that I had no idea what I was doing, carb wise. Though I’m pretty sure I told her that I’ve tried everything and that my docs at the previous hospital pretty much threw up their hands and said “no idea!”

Next week, I meet with the endocrinologist  who can probably hook me up with a dietitian that, you know, works with diabetics. (Concept!? Amazing!)