1 Drop at a Time

Hello interwebs, I'm still around. The past couple of weeks have been an emotional and physical struggle. My mind was filled with immense feelings of doubt. My blood sugars were high, low, in the valley and up at the tip of the peak. It was awful. I would get low and overcorrect, then, be high and feel like crap. I felt helpless. My doctor suggested I read the book "Pump Life". This has been a life saver and so was Osman, my husband. On the days I was in tears (like the ugly cry, which was every day for two weeks), wanting to throw this pump I was so excited about, out the window, he would research the issues I was having. It is amazing how two people can read the exact same thing but read something completely different. So what have I learned? 1. It is okay to cry and feel mad.  2. Fast acting insulin is NOT fast acting....I now bolus and wait anywhere from 15-30 minutes to eat. It was SO scary because I felt like I was going to bottom out and not be able to get my...

I have a pump! I know in time it will be great, but right now, it makes me feel a little uneasy and unsure. It is hard to let go and trust a little box, but technology is a wonderful thing that I am thankful for. Currently, I am working through finding the "perfect" basal rates and insulin-to-carb ratio. I'm quickly learning this isn't something that happens overnight. That being said, the t:Slim G4 is quite the device. I talked a little bit about it in my last blog, but here is some updated info. The touch screen makes it user friendly, especially in this smart phone world we live in. The pump walks you through most steps, and security measures are in place so you don't "butt bolus" on accident. T:Slim and Dexcom (continuous glucose monitoring) came together to provide an integrated system that empowers you to make better choices, thanks to the ability to see your glucose levels in real time. I didn't say blood glucose levels because the Dexcom port...

The sun is finally shining again!! We have literally gone DAYS without any sunlight. We missed the blood moon thanks to the clouds, but thank heavens there is good ol' sunshine again.  For the past couple of weeks I feel like I have been making a complicated electronic purchase. When in reality, I have been deciding on what insulin pump and dexcom (continuous glucose monitor) I would like to commit to. Things I have learned  1. If you can have medical equipment processed through the pharmacy portion of your insurance, DO IT! I learned that only some medical supply companies do this and other companies can only process through the medical portion of insurance, which requires deductibles to be met etc. So instead of paying hundreds to thousands of dollars to have my pump set up, my copay contains only 1, zero!!!  2. There are a TON of options out there.  3. All those options can be really over whelming.  4. I'm scared. With all that being said, I...

Hi there,  Fall is officially here. My favorite season has arrived and Athens seems to have gotten the memo with the cool air and overcast day. In honor of all things Fall, I thought I'd share one of my favorite, low-carb dessert recipes. Osman found this recipe and since, we have tweaked it some to fit our taste.  Peanut Butter Pie  Ingredients: Filling -1 cup Peanut Butter  -8oz Fat Free Cream Cheese  -1/2-1 container Lite Whipped Cream  -1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract -Splenda to taste (they say sugar substitutes are cup for cup the same as sugar, I have found Splenda is overly sweet so I only use 2-3 tablespoons for this recipe) -Cinnamon  -Nutmeg  Crust (entire crust is only 11g of carbs!!) -2 cups Almond Meal -3 tablespoons melted butter  -3 tablespoons Splenda  To make the crust, pre-heat oven to 350F. In a bowl mix together almond meal, melted butter and Splenda. Take mixture and place in p...

My work week is over, yay! A couple days ago my dreaded medical alert bracelet came in the mail, or what I thought was dreaded. I actually love it! It looks just like a silver bangle but it is a piece of jewelry that could essentially save my life. I found it on esty, cutcolorcreate is the business name, the bracelet was reasonably priced and customizable. I would highly recommend this product. It is made from aluminum and water proof! So for me, it was a trendy but practical option. This week was an exciting one. After many pros and cons lists and discussions with Osman, I decided to become a Baylor nurse or a nurse that only works Saturday and Sunday. It will provide me with a much needed weekly routine and the cherry on the top is getting to spend some more time with my little man, Jacob. It is funny how life finds a way of working itself. Especially when I don't get in my own way! Like I have said before, I am a self proclaimed control freak. I also have an appointment w...

Hey Y'all!  Sometimes a girl just wants something starchy. So I jumped on the Cauliflower Mashed Potato band wagon. I know this was all the rage awhile ago. However, I just tried this out a few weeks ago, and after some tweaking, I thought I'd share my recipe with everyone. Once you add in all the goodies, it is hard to tell your are eating dressed up cauliflower.  *Ingredients* 1 Head Cauliflower  1 Pckt Ranch Powder  1 Small Carton Heavy Whipping Cream  Chives, chopped  Shredded Cheese  *Directions* Steam Cauliflower. Preheat Oven to 350F. Once cauliflower is soft, place in a food processor. Process cauliflower to consistency of your choosing, I like mine as smooth as possible. While the processor is running, add in Heavy Whipping Cream, this will help smooth out mixture. Add in Ranch Packet and Chives, mix well. Place in a casserole dish. Sprinkle some cheese on top. Place in oven for about 20 minutes or until top is browned. The baking time helps e...

This past week has been frustrating to say the least. It was my first week off orientation at work, we were short, and my blood sugars have been enjoying the 40's, 50's and 60's. I tried to think of a witty "even my blood glucose levels are ready for Fall" joke but I'm not feeling it. I'm so bad about communicating my concerns. For me, when my blood sugars are not "perfect" I feel like I'm failing. So instead of asking for help, I grin and bare it, shaky, sweaty palms in all, choke down a few deliciously, disgusting glucose tabs, reminiscent of glucose tolerance test, and bring that sugar back up. Remember, nurses make the worst patients, at least this one does. I think a lot of times, I feel like if I don't verbalize this whole area of my life, then maybe it will just go away. Well today, I decided to ask for help. I'm so glad I did. I'm fortunate to have a doctor who cares enough to personally call and talk with my stubborn self...