Had a business lunch today and only had 3/4 of a club sandwich…maybe had 20 or 25 homemade potato chips….Took additional insulin to cover and 2 hours after lunch and I am pinging 244 on my Dexcom…..What the heck?  It is times like these that you question yourself and your ability to estimate carbs. I’m guessing I mis figured but that is sure a pretty good size miss.  Oh well…..........what are you gonna do?  Keep on fighting the good fight and just plow on…...it seems to be the only thing that makes any kind of sense to me.. Helllooo insulin….

Ah, the joys of diabetes….........................

The FDA says:

This is to alert you to the possibility of falsely elevated blood glucose results when using GDH-PQQ glucose test strips on patients who are receiving therapeutic products containing certain non-glucose sugars. These sugars can falsely elevate glucose results, which may mask significant hypoglycemia or prompt excessive insulin administration, leading to serious injury or death. The following provides background information on this problem, a summary of fatality reports FDA has received, and recommendations to reduce the risk. This problem can occur wherever these products are used including in-patient and out-patient healthcare facilities, and at home.

Here is a full list of to known affected Meters/Strips:

List of GDH-PQQ Glucose Test Strips
The following test strips (with associated meters) use GDH-PQQ methodology as of August 2009:
Roche Diagnostics:

• ACCU-CHEK Comfort Curve test strips, for use with:


• ACCU-CHEK Inform meters [model 2001201]


• ACCU-CHEK Complete meters [models 200 and 250]


• ACCU-CHEK Advantage meters [models 888, 831, 850, and 768]


• ACCU-CHEK Voicemate meters [model 0009221]


• ACCU-CHEK Aviva test strips, for use with:


• ACCU-CHEK Aviva meters [models 525, 535, and 555]


• ACCU-CHEK Compact test strips, for use with:


• ACCU-CHEK Compact meters [model GF]


• ACCU-CHEK Compact Plus meters [models GP and GT]


• ACCU-CHEK Go test strips


• ACCU-CHEK Go meters [model GJ]


• ACCU-CHEK Active test strips


• ACCU-CHEK Active meters [models GG and GN]

• Freestyle test strips, for use with:


• FreeStyle meters


• FreeStyle Flash meters


• FreeStyle Freedom meters


• Freestyle Lite test strips, for use with:


• FreeStyle Lite meters


• FreeStyle Freedom Lite meters

TRUEtest test strips
TRUEresult meters
TRUE2go meters

Smiths Medical:

Abbott Diabetes Care Freestyle test strips, for use with:
CoZmonitor blood glucose module (for use with the Deltec Cozmo Insulin Pump)
Insulet:
Abbott Diabetes Care Freestyle test strips, for use with:
OmniPod Insulin Management System

Well, I am glad to say that I am back in one piece after a wonderful week on North Captiva Island in Florida. After about day 3, I kept getting an alarm and my pump quit working. Oooohhh noooooo!!!! Now on any other trip, I have always remembered to bring an old one as a backup, NOT this time, dang-it.

I called Medtronic, and they over nighted me one. I am always amazed how something can get from California to an Island in Florida only accessible by ferry in less than 24 hours. Wow! Medtronic was great with their service as always.

I did however have to go on the needle for about 24 hours. Now the problem was that I only had fast acting Humalog, and nothing else. Every 3 hours, get up test, or check the cgms (which was also acting a little funny that day) take some insulin. Everything worked great until about hour 23 when I went down to the office to hopefully pick up my pump. They told me it wasnt there yet. Ok, no problem, it’s probably on the next ferry over.

That is the last thing I remember. I was almost blacked out on my way back to the house as apparently I was over injecting and was having a severe hypo. Thank God my son was driving around on his golf cart as he saw me driving at about 1/2 mile an hour with a blank look on my face. He got me home and my wife pumped me up with glucose gels, of course the inevitable super high followed.

However the pump came, and I was able to get back on a basal rate to get back under control. Lessons learned? Oh yeah, always bring a back up pump or some slow acting insulin when leaving town or being away from home. I already knew, that. Somehow, when things are buzzing along well, you don’t really think about the possibility of problems. I messed up and didn’t have a plan B. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

The good Lord and my family have saved my skin. Yet Again!

Keep going
Peace, Bob

I recently tried Apidra for about 2 weeks as my endo thought it might be helpful. I really looked forward to what i hoped would be faster absorption rates that I had heard about.   Sadly to say, after 2 weeks, I am back on Humalog as I didn’t respond well to Apidra.   My wife finally convinced me to go back on the Humalog after about the third or fourth extreme low that she had to resurrect me from. As one who is hypoglycemic unaware most of the times, I dialed back my basal rates and I took less insulin, but the lows hit me really hard and without any warning….rather reminescent of NPH.

I also definitely found myself to be moody and morose and felt my overall mindset was suffering. I dont know if it was from all the lows or what, but it was not a good experience for me.  I am sure others have had positive results with Apidra, and I recommend they continue with what works for them .  For me however, it was not an improvement in my control…..more of a liability.   Sadly, I had hoped it would be an improvement regarding absorption rates….ie improved control, but it didn’t work out for me….

Keep Going,..................................Peace,    Bob

I received this video from a friend ..Tom Barcel ..on Twitter recently. It is very interesting and relevant to diabetes. The low calorie benefits are also seen…although I am pretty sure I am not up for the baby food and low calorie bread snacks.  ....but the lowering of calories in our diet seems to continue to show up as a benefit in life and diabetes management.  As always….not for everyone….

Its a 12 minute plus video, but I think it is worth watching…...

Keep going …......................Peace,   60 Minutes video on Resveratrol…..worth the 12 minutes or so to watch Bob

I met another Type 1 diabetic last evening who was on MDI and was leery of using the pump. His thoughts were that he already knew what he was doing and thought he was doing good enough…..however after less than 20 years as a diabetic he did mention that his feet would sometimes tingle….ruh roh….He also mentioned how he really doesn’t test but 1x a day or so.

I always try to push people to manage themselves much more tightly so as to stave off damage from long term highs…

He was interested in the CGMS but when he heard it was 235.00 a month, he said he couldn’t afford it. I thought to myself, wow…..guess what your true costs are gonna be as you go another few years with less than stellar control…the cost of diabetes is not just dollars, but also in life and limb.

Please, Please, Please…..do whatever it takes to gain control, and if you have to, work a second job to pay for your supplies,  find assistance somehow, somewhere, but don’t short yourself the absolute best care possible….This is your LIFE!!!!!!!! You won’t be handed another body if this one fails!!!!! Your loved ones deserve your best efforts possible…    Keep Going…

PEACE…..........

Wishing you more…..Bob

FDA study: Insulin pumps linked to injuries, deaths in teens

According to investigations by the FDA they might be. But really it is more about the use/convenience of pumps have resulted in circumstances stemming from mis-education and carelessness that bring about such events.

“Parents should be vigilant in (more…)