ATypicalDay

Awoke and felt the need to get up and go to the washroom. Didn't think I
could wait until the alarm goes off at 5:00 AM. Always leave glucose meter on
bathroom counter; on those occasions when I get up during the night to go to
the bathroom I will check my BG.

Now blood glucose is 407, dangerously high! Okay, here is where my training
kicks in, so I mechanically go through the steps: Go to refrigerator and get
insulin and a syringe; when it goes this high, always make sure I get insulin
into my system first, then ask questions later. Take an injection because
logically I assume something is abnormal with the pump; also drink some
water. Then I check for kinks in pump tubing, check infusion site, and
amount of insulin left in cartridge. All looks okay

Then I remembered! Duh! Last night I experienced a bad "low" so I
stumbled to the kitchen, took out the container of frozen yogurt,
and only God knows how much I ate of it because I had no idea!

Mental Note to Self:
Make the determination NOW to get back to taking glucose tablets for my lows.
If I know ahead of the need that I should chew 3 or 4 tablets, then when I
can't think or act logically because of low blood glucose, I will still know what to
do and will not over-correct.

Now do I lay back down for a few minutes or do I stay up? Chose to make
myself comfy in large living room chair. Staying in bed makes my lower
back stiffen and hurt tremendously from degenerated nerve endings.
Sleep is important to good health. I should buy a nice reclining love seat
so at least I will not have to lay flat, need a love seat instead of individual
recliner because I also need room for my furgirls. Dozed until radio came on.

Up and at 'em! Can't let something like high blood sugar get the best of me. This
is my busy time of year at work. I have responsibilities and I do like my job. Went
to bathroom and checked for acetone this time; anytime BG goes high, need to
check for signs of ketoacidosis. Negative reading. Whew! Checked BG; now
350, so it's coming down nicely. Make coffee and take time for personal
devotions. God has been good to me!

Now the furbabies are awake. Let them out to go potty; I always stand
at the door to watch; I don't take a chance of something happening to
my precious little bundles of fur. It is snowing lightly. As I waited I tried
to stretch my back to get the kinks and the pain out. After they
came back inside I go through my getting ready for the day routine
which also includes washing the girl's faces and brushing their hair.
Checked BG a couple more times to make sure it is still coming down

Finally I'm ready to take on the world! I have warmed Misty's and Anna's
food, put on my coat, checked the thermostat, opened the blinds, and put
up baby gates to block off part of the house from any potentially bored
Silkies. Place Anna's plate in the bedroom; she is older and doesn't
maneuver the stairs well. I want to separate them while they eat so I
always take Misty's food down to the family room, then I'm into the
garage and off in my Chevy. It's about an hour's drive to work.

Arrive at work where I plunge wholeheartedly into projects common to
this time of year, very hectic. Many of my duties and projects have
deadlines. I am behind schedule because of being out a few days for
my shoulder surgery and now I have to work around my therapy
appointments. My boss is so kind to lend a helping hand.

Managed to take a minute to check my BG; it's now at 134, still a little on the
high side but at least it's close to normal. If BG had not continued to fall, I would
have changed my infusion site. Took a small bolus because now it's been 4
hours since I took the injection. Also took out my low carb breakfast
shake and my pills (2 heart pills, 1 cholesterol, 2 fiber, 1 ecotrin, 1 meridia, 1
celebrex, 1 multivitamin plus minerals) ah pills au choc-o-lat, yummy!
Bolus for the breakfast shake.

Am kind of hungry so I take out my peanut butter high-protein-low-carb cereal bar. These
things are really wonderful, love sinking my teeth into them. Continue to work through
multiple projects on top of regular duties, my job is very fast-paced and demanding.

It's a good thing I packed some leftovers for lunch. Many times I
like to go out and get a nice salad but no time today since I have
to leave early for my follow-up appointment with my orthopaedic
doctor. Heated my lunch, spent about 5 minutes engaging in
pleasant conversation with colleagues, then take my food back to
my desk where I continue to plug through my work.

Meant to leave at 3:15 but just had to finish a couple of things
before I could leave. Those critical deadlines! It's an hour and 15
minutes to get to the doctor for my appointment, so I try to hurry.

Arrive at doctor's office about 10 minutes late for appointment.
Have to wait about 50 minutes before I see the doctor.
Did I miss my appointment or was the doctor that far behind?
Oh well I used the time to sit quietly, close my eyes, and relax;
don't get to do this too often. Doctor was pleased with my
progress. He says to continue my therapy and come back in a
month. Also looked at my "trigger finger," another malady that
may require further attention. In fact, now my hand is throbbing
from the pressure of his examining it. This doctor is new to me;
I'm glad I found him; he seems like a good one.

It's really nice to arrive home this early; usually it's much later!
Open the door where I am greeted by my adoring fans! What a great
reception they always give me! Even my children were never this
enthusiastic! Look about the yard as I let them out for their potty break.
I'm really glad I was able to do some clean-up work in the yard
during the sunny afternoon yesterday. Now it's much colder and
damp. Didn't get any more bulbs planted though; oh well, there's
always next year. I just keep working at the yard a little at a time.

Made some dinner, sat down to eat with Misty and Anna, cleaned out the
refrigerator (garbage truck comes tomorrow morning), washed dishes
from dinner and the refrigerator, emptied all garbage cans, and took
garbage to garage to be deposited on curb later. Checked online bank
statement and reconciled it with manual register, checked and answered a
few emails, played with furbabies, worked on a personal project on computer.

Have cleaned out and refilled furgirls' water bowls. Laid out tomorrow's clothes,
had to wear something that would do for both therapy and office, chose a simple
pantsuit with a simple top. I can wear the slacks and top in therapy then throw
on my jacket and jewelry in their ladies' room. Have to get everything together
tonight since I have to be at therapy tomorrow morning at 7:00 AM, three times
a week I go but only 5 more sessions. I am doing well.

Am really getting extremely tired. Take BG (normal), then go to kitchen to get the
girls' usual chicken cookie that they get at bedtime and take my cholesterol
medication. Ah I'm almost there! Oh dear! Now I see my pump is down to 17 units
of insulin. Is that enough to last until morning? I'm so tired I can barely do the
calculation; I don't think I can stay up another minute, yes it's enough. I will just
have to be organized enough to get infusion set and cartridge changed when
I first get up in the AM.

Note: I was inspired to create this page by a commercial. I haven't watched it that
closely; but it's by a company that makes glucose meters. There is a young boy
talking about all the things he does that are like any other normal boy, but he also
tests his blood glucose. Then the announcer says softly "Live your life the way you
want; we will fit in." Diabetics can live well and can have a good life. However the
disease cannot be ignored; you must educate yourself on how to live well.

Links

Home Page

Links to Pages in this Section:

A Typical (?) Ordinary Day in the Life of a Diabetic

Monday Diary - Nov 2004

04:21 AM

04:35 AM

05:00 AM

05:30 AM

06:40 AM

07:50 AM

08:20 AM

10:00 AM

12:15 PM

3:30 PM

4:40 PM

6:10 PM

the rest of the
evening

10:30 PM

"Thank you, Lord, for being so good to me and for
helping me to live well. Thank you for putting me in
touch with just the right people to help me along my
path. Help me to be a blessing to others."