old habits

Over the weekend, my family celebrated my Mom and cousin's birthdays. My cousin has a close friend who is a Type 1, whom I have known since before I was even diagnosed in 7th grade (he was the groomsman I was paired with at my cousin's wedding). We got into a discussion of my Omnipod versus shots, and he was just not into pumps! I understood, because I never even gave them a chance until I saw the Omnipod and did a lot of research. He is also a very muscular guy who works out a lot, so he was concerned with limited sites and if he'd have a full range of movement for lifting.
I didn't really try to convince him, I just told the honest truth about my experience so far. The way I see it, both methods have good and bad parts. Shots are a little inconvenient and usually hurt a bit, but you don't have to wear anything on your body all the time. The Pod is super convenient (have I mentioned how it does all the math!?) and has capabilities that shots don't (extended bolus, different basal rates, temp basals, logging insulin usage and blood sugars) but is always on you and can fail unexpectedly.
I did tell him that my A1c went from 6.8 (my best ever on shots) to 6.1...you can do a good job either way, but I do better with the Pod. He said that he will reconsider it when they integrate the CGM (Continuous Glucose Monitor). Can't wait for that day!

Famous Type 1's

NICK JONAS- Part of the Jonas Brothers band, a product of the Disney masterminds, Nick is the first Tiger Beat pinup to proudly wear an Omnipod!

ELIZABETH PERKINS- Plays the hilarious Celia Hodes on Weeds, and corrupted Tom Hanks in Big. Was diagnosed with Type 1 recently at 44 years old.


BRET MICHAELS- Proving that the D can't stop you from whoring yourself out on a reality show (a GREAT reality show, that is) or finding your rock of love.

What do all of these wonderful Type 1's, and myself, have in common? A love of leopard print.

Have a great July 4th!

I have to admit that I did a bit of a "rage comment", sort of like a rage bolus- on this New York Times article. I tried to read it through the eyes of the average, non-diabetic person, and thought it did a poor job of separating Type 1 and Type 2. And maybe I was more angry about some of the comments on the article or just the general lack of understanding. Hence the rage comment by "insulin dependent"...

• 95.
  July 2nd,
  2008
  3:06 pm

  Writing about Type 1 and Type 2 as if you can control them in the same manner is so misleading- just because both involve insulin and a myriad of complication does not make them the same disease. This article continues the media tradition of lumping the two together. Being a Type 1 Diabetic is like being a non-smoker diagnosed with lung cancer. Most people you reveal your diagnosis to assume you brought it upon yourself.

  The common thinking goes, if you don’t want lung cancer, don’t smoke! So if you don’t want diabetes, don’t eat so much sugar/just lose some weight! It’s hard to deal with the silent judgment and open ignorance that is placed upon me because of the word ‘diabetes’. This article makes a distinction between the two early on, but then goes on to generalize that diabetes can be managed with ‘lifestyle changes’. I could work out for hours each day and be 20 pounds underweight and I would still need to inject insulin and check my blood sugar at least ten times a day. And after years of diligent self-care, my body will likely end up ravaged by this disease.

  I’m not saying that anyone deserves Type 2, but I certainly did not deserve Type 1, at 12 years old. And I would like a little respect.

  — Posted by insulin dependent

Someone please buy me this shirt! Amazing.

Trying to think of what's new on the diabetes front. Had a big snafu where my work processed my insurance wrong and signed me up for a Health Savings Account- in which you don't pay much in premiums but have a high deductible and end up paying for most things out of pocket. CLEARLY not something I would choose over an HMO with my cherished co-pay. I only found out they had done this when I picked up some test strips and Humalog to the tune of $700! Not okay. I have to wait for the reimbursement to go through; thank god for American Express.


Moving from PA back to Jersey this weekend, will be within biking distance to work! Pretty excited =)

this shake not only looks kinda good, but seems like it could send my blood sugar over the 800 mark. note to self: avoid!!

check out the calorie, fat, and carb content...enough of each to feed a family of 4 for a day!

Omnipod Issues

At my most recent appointment with my CDE, who started me on the Omnipod, she shared a little tid bit that I thought you all might be interested in. She said that Omnipod had originally used copper for one small piece in the pods (I can't recall if this is the metal she said, but it was a higher grade metal). To cut costs, they switched the part (to either nickel or aluminum). The batches with the new metal part began to have much higher failure rates, and Omnipod switched back to the original component.

She said I would probably notice that my most recent delivery of Pods had fewer failures (it's true!). She was very angry that Omnipod had not made her (or us) aware of this until after the fact. Why not just recall those boxes? Anyway, this news made me angry but also glad that the Pods seem to be much more consistent now.

Oh, and I forgot to mention- got my new A1c and it was 6.2- only .1 up from last time! Looks like it wasn't just a fluke or a pump honeymoon. This is why I can't hold a grudge with Omnipod!

lol-betus