Celiabetes

A new outlook, A new approach to autoimmune disease management.

2015-05-23T10:19:00.002-07:00

Well, hello there!

I’ve been gone for a while. I took some time away from blogging in order to create and implement a strategy for my health. I had felt my health was declining for many different reasons, including excess stress, poor diet, and poor stress management. I knew I HAD to make a change before my health went further down the toilet, so after leaving my job in March 2014, I took 9 months off from work. I spent several months -600 miles from home, where I reconnected with family and old friends. I spent many hours looking over the lake. I also spent my days with my beloved dog, Bella, who has terminal cancer (who was given a devastatingly short prognosis in December 2013 and to the surprise of her doggy oncologist and family vet IS STILL HERE!). I meditated and yoga’d daily. I read a lot of books. I spent time alone and I decided to be quiet; very quiet, for a long time, so I could listen to what my body was trying to tell me. I realized that I was DONE working for the corporate world and driving an hour each day in city rush hour traffic, I was done with the stress and would return to working once I found a small company in the suburbs, where I live. Money was no longer the priority; health and sanity were.

As many of you know if you follow me on twitter or Instagram, I have followed the Paleo way of eating for about a year and a half. I have been working toward cleaning up my way of eating over time, and recently, I decided to try the AIP (Autoimmune Protocol) diet. It is similar to Paleo, however it excludes a few more foods, including nightshades (tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, etc.) and certain spices (paprika, black pepper, cumin, etc.), and initially excludes things like eggs, nuts, seeds, until after the elimination period, at which time you will reintroduce one food at a time to see how your body reacts to it. I already know I am allergic to dairy and raw onions, as I was diagnosed after a skin test and a blood test at the allergist’s office. Not anaphylactic allergic, but I will experience symptoms of discomfort when I eat these foods. But I have wondered if other foods may be the cause of my bloating, acne and fatigue. The fatigue has been debilitating; on my days off I would sleep 15-16 hours throughout the day and night. I was so fatigued that I could not get up to do even simple things around my house, like dishes, cooking, picking up rooms or even showering.

Having 3 autoimmune diseases, I am always interested in reading research on foods that help or harm your body when you have autoimmune diseases. I have also been searching out blogs and YouTube channels of others who try to manage their autoimmune diseases with diet and lifestyle. I have been following the Paleo Cajun Lady on Instagram and reading her blog, and she is very inspiring to me. She recommended the book The Paleo Approach by Dr. Sarah Ballantyne, an expert on autoimmune diseases, so I purchased it this week. This book will take me a while to get through; as it is almost 450 pages! It seems to have everything you have ever wanted to know about autoimmune diseases and diet. I then purchased AIP Batch Cook program from Mickey Trescott, who provides videos that walk you through the cooking process in real-time. Her recipes are absolutely delicious and I have been eating them for a couple of weeks now.

I will tell you I am a firm believer that diet is a big factor in one’s ability to manage his/her autoimmune disease(s). I’m not saying food can cure you; but it sure can affect your management and your day-to-day functioning if you are not eating right. An example for me was when I had been eating clean for quite some time, and then in a weak moment with friends I ate 2 slices of gluten free pizza. Having not eaten grains in so long, I began to not feel well; bloated and sluggish. I had been feeling great for so long and had achieved good blood sugar control, and then I ate that pizza and it set me back health-wise. Not only did I feel a little icky and bloated, but my blood sugar soared high, and it took the better portion of a day to get it down in a normal, healthy range. I wanted to kick myself in the pants. I was so mad at myself! The pizza was SO NOT WORTH IT!

At my wedding earlier this month, I was proud of myself for not having any gluten free cake at my own wedding! I had shredded meat and veggies, and for drinks all I had were several bottles of water. No alcohol! I’ve never viewed myself as disciplined and sticking to things is hard for me. But if you have ever heard the phrase “sick and tired of being sick and tired” then let’s just say that’s where I am at right now, and that mentality has helped me to stick to a diet that improves my health and gives me energy and clear skin.

Now, I am NO expert on Paleo, AIP diet, autoimmune diseases or anything else, so please don’t think I am handing out advice and saying that YOU should follow this way of eating. I am only sharing my own personal experience with you on my blog. Your situation is your own and you have to make those decisions for yourself.

Nowadays, life is good. I have a great job at a small firm 8 minutes from my house (exactly what I was looking for!) I am married to someone who is very supportive of me and my many autoimmune diseases, food allergies and chemical allergies. He loves me very much. (Again, exactly what I was looking for!) I still enjoy daily yoga and meditation practices, which helps me manage stress and anxiety. I take my time cooking and enjoy the process of putting lots of love and care into my food. And of course, I still spend lots of time every day with my very special dog, Bella, whom I hope will be here for years to come.

If any of you know of other autoimmune disease or AIP blogs or YouTube channels, please let me know!

Another trip

2014-05-26T20:26:00.001-07:00

I am back home after a long weekend getaway to a cabin in the woods. It was a relaxing weekend with great weather. I enjoyed spending time in the sun by the lake, being out in nature, reading, relaxing. My return home is only brief; I am here for one day before I head out on a 9.5 hour road trip. I’m driving across the Midwest, just me and my dog Bella, to visit my family. Also, my youngest cousin is graduating from high school and I am looking forward to attending his graduation party.

For most people, this trip would not be a big deal. It is a pretty straight drive, lots of scenic country. And in the past, for me, it also was not a big deal. I have always enjoyed road trips. But all that changed when I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, and later that year, celiac disease. Now the trip is a very big deal and requires A LOT of planning. Firstly, one of the most dangerous situations for a type 1 diabetic to be in is being the driver on a long distance road trip. This is not my opinion; this is what I was told by my endocrinologist, and I have also read in my diabetes books. There are many factors that affect diabetes- sitting for too long, heat from the sun beating down on you through your car window, managing food, sleep deprivation, stress, and also trying to regularly check your blood sugar during the drive. Not to mention, driving alone, if I were to have a low blood sugar episode, there would be no one to help me. In fact, there is a stretch that I drive that is so remote that not only are there no homes, gas stations or civilization, but there is also no cell phone reception. So if I were to run into trouble, I’d have to hope another motorist would stop to help.

Additionally, being celiac makes it essentially impossible for me to stop for a bite to eat along the way. That's okay, though. I save money (and eat better!) by bringing a cooler and packing healthy snacks that are gluten free, such as hard boiled eggs, homemade tuna salad, and gluten free turkey sticks. The only issue is that the cooler does not keep food cool the entire 9 hours, so I must bring some food that does not require refrigeration that I can eat later on in the drive. I started purchasing Go Picnic’s gluten free boxes, as they are shelf-stable and have a nice mix of finger foods I can eat while driving. I also bring plenty of fruits, nuts, juice boxes and glucose tabs to treat low blood sugars, and plenty of water.

The goal on the drive is to maintain stable blood sugars that will keep me safe while driving- not to high and definitely not too low, stay hydrated, stay AWAKE driving by myself, and stay nourished with good food. I do not drink caffeine, never have been a caffeine drinker, so I rely solely on getting adequate sleep and taking good care of my health to keep me awake and alert. Caffeine is a drug that I’ve seen too many (or should I say MOST) friends become addicted to and they rely on it to get them through the day. I have never wanted to follow that path, so I stay away from it.

I am looking forward to a safe and fun trip! I will have loved ones calling me along the way to check in, and my sweet dog Bella is good company. I also had my oil changed, my drive belts changed, and my car checked by the dealership to make sure it’s good to go for the long 9 hour drive.

I’ll be staying with my mom when I arrive at my destination, and one thing I won’t have to worry about at her place is cross-contamination with gluten. My mom is ALSO celiac. She was diagnosed by an endoscopy a year and a half after me. So her house is 100% gluten free also. This makes life easier, as I do not have to pack pans and cooking equipment like I normally have to if I stayed elsewhere. She is not dairy free, nor does she follow a Paleo diet like I do, so I generally do pick up some of my own foods to prepare while I am there. This time, I am bringing my Make Ahead Paleo cookbook (by Tammy Credicott) so I will have some yummy, easy recipes to prepare during my stay. I know my family will like the food, as well. Her recipes are quite good. My current favorite is her Chicken with Balsamic “Cream” Sauce and Mushrooms recipe. OMGoodness, it is so darn good.

I’ll blog more once I arrive. Until next time!

How this Celiac-Diabetic with severe allergies packs for a weekend getaway.

2014-05-23T16:13:00.003-07:00

It's Memorial Day weekend, y'all. I got an invite to go up to a cabin about 2 1/2 hours out of the city, where I won't have easy access to grocery stores or pharmacies. What's a Celia-betic who is allergic to everything to do? PACK EVERYTHING, that's what.

Being celiac, I packed all my own food- after extensive meal planning for meals that will accommodate my diabetic celiac diet. I also packed all my own pans, a cutting board, spices, snacks, butter, teas, etc. Here is the menu plan I put together (which I will share with others at the cabin, of course! Too much food for one person!)

Breakfasts:
-Egg muffins (basically spinach, mushroom, eggs mixed with almond milk and a piece of bacon on top, baked in a greased muffin pan in the oven). GF, DF, Paleo. Makes 12 "muffins."
-Jones brand GF breakfast sausage
-Extra organic eggs for hard boiling or cooking, in case needed

Lunches/dinners:
-chicken in balsamic cream sauce with mushrooms (GF, Dairy Free, Paleo), from make Ahead Paleo Cookbook
-grilled hamburgers, plus my own separate ketchup and GF Canyon Ranch buns
-chicken wings for grilling, plus Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ sauce

Sides:
-mashed cauliflower with chives (GF, DF, Paleo)
-"No-Potato" Salad- (GF, DF, Paleo), from Make Ahead Paleo cookbook
-Healthy version of broccoli salad (GF, DF, Paleo). Recipe found on www.weightandwellness.com
-sweet potato wedges wrapped in bacon and baked
-baked southwestern Mac n cheese- GF, dairy free, from godairyfree.com website

Snacks:
-almonds
-Eat Your Veggies brand chips
-blueberries
-apples
-oranges
-bananas

Desserts:
-Almond flour chocolate chip cookies (GF, DF, Paleo) from Elana Amsterdam's cookbook Almond Flour Cookbook

These foods accommodate both my celiac and diabetic needs.

Extra things:
-chip clip
-aluminum foil for grill and oven
-storage containers for extra food I want to bring home (can't use others as they are likely cross-contaminated with gluten).
-baking pan
-frying pan
-cutting board
-mixing bowl
-crockpot bag (so I can use the host's crockpot)
-cooler

I hauled the non-perishable stuff in my personalized Thirty One bags (for celiacs who have to haul a lot of stuff around, these are amazing. I own several!)

Packing for diabetes- being on an insulin pump, I packed a week's worth of pump supplies, an extra vial of insulin, a bottle of glucose tabs and a big bottle of grape juice to treat lows, and also to share with others.

Packing for allergies: because I am allergic to soap, detergent, lotions and shampoos/conditioners, I brought all my own stuff. I also brought my own linens and towels, since I can't dry off with towels that have been washed in most detergents. Here is what happens when I don't bring my own towels (see pic!) I immediately break out in burning rashes all over my body. It's awful!! Since I am allergic to sunscreen, I wear a large brimmed sun hat and limit my time in the sun, opting for more shade.

Now you can see why I upgraded my cute, small sports car to a larger vehicle- I need to haul around a lot of stuff on my trips! I pack for a family of 8, even though I'm just 1...

Anyway, my sweet dog Bella and I made it safe and sound to the cabin, and I'm writing this from the deck that overlooks the lake. So beautiful... All my hard work and planning was worth it. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

socially uncomfortable gluten free situations.

2014-04-19T16:35:00.003-07:00

BEING GLUTEN FREE AIN'T EZ.

It's at certain times of the year that my anxiety around having celiac disease flairs up. It is usually around all holidays. A bit of panic arises in me when I receive an invite to a birthday party, or a dinner party, too. It is hard to always maneuver through food situations when you can't eat what everyone else is eating.

I'm a tough celiac chick. I've managed my way through several food situations, including getting glutened at restaurants that have assured me an understanding of gluten free food prep.

Here are a few uncomfortable situations that I have found myself in just in the past year:

1. A host of a dinner party assured me the crackers in the bowl were gluten free. I didn't want her to think I didn't trust her, but I DIDN'T TRUST HER. I asked to see the box they came in, only to see they were the "Made with Brown Rice" Triscuits that, right on the label, stated "CONTAINS WHEAT."

2. The same host, at a different party, made a batch of "gluten free" pasta salad, which I found out contained a brand of non-gluten free bacon.

3. A woman i had never met before sitting across from me at a dinner party called me out in front of a large table of people on my "so-called Celiac Disease," saying if it really existed then how come no one had ever head of it before recently? She also continued on to say it was a load of sh*t diagnosis that doctors just made up and that she didn't believe for one second that someone couldn't eat wheat.

4. Out with my date and his family at a fancy dinner establishment that advertises their gluten-free menu and safe food prep practices, and after advising the host, waitress AND the manager on duty of my medically necessary gluten free diet, I found a piece of regular spiral pasta in my steamed broccoli. (This restaurant doesn't offer gluten free pasta). When the manager came to our table to discuss the issue, the manager explained that the same strainer was used to strain my broccoli that they use for their gluten-filled pasta. Not only did the manager refuse to take the meal off the bill (he offered me a free dessert), but my date's father DEFENDED the manager out loud, agreeing with him that it was "no big deal," when the manager and I were talking. (This was at BONFIRE restaurant in Eagan, MN for all the locals who are wondering).

5. An acquaintance of mine, who eats gluten free occasionally by choice, surprised me with a flourless gluten free chocolate cake. Nervous, I went over every ingredient in the recipe with her to make sure it was truly gluten free. Suspicious by the white flour-looking substance around the side, she advised me she used the nonstick spray, Pam with Flour, to spray the pan. Luckily, I caught it before eating it.

6. I took a friend out for her birthday, but told her that I had to pick the restaurant. I ALWAYS HAVE TO PICK THE RESTAURANT.

These are just a few examples of why it is so difficult to have celiac disease. Celiac disease depends on the details- what spray oil was used, were the pans/cutting boards/spatulas/colander cross-contaminated? Have I sufficiently grilled the restaurant manager on their food prep practices and ingredients? It is difficult because well-intentioned people will inadvertently gluten you. Restaurants that advertise gluten free menus will gluten you. It makes for some awkward social situations, especially when you are not among close family and friends who understand.

Of the three autoimmune diseases I have- type 1 diabetes, grave's disease, and celiac disease, it is the one that gets taken the LEAST seriously by others.

So to my other celiac disease peeps out there, here is a big virtual hug before the upcoming holiday meals. May you stay safe and healthy!

Managing Stress with Autoimmune Diseases.

2014-04-10T20:58:00.000-07:00

I am in a constant state of improvement. Whatever I'm doing, I want to do it better. Whether I'm working, cleaning, eating, or managing autoimmune diseases, I look for ways to do things smarter and more efficiently. This can become a very stressful mindset when you are trying to manage diseases that are not easily managed and that do not have a rule book you can follow. When things don't turn out the way I want them to, I blame myself, feeling I wasn't paying enough attention or making something a priority when I should have. Needless to say, my stress levels are always running on high. Stress isn't good for anyone; but it is even worse for someone who already has 3 autoimmune diseases. One of the triggers for auto immune is stress. I also know that the body is not meant to live in a constant state of stress, to always live in the fire, yet I can't seem to get myself out.

I've tried various ways to reduce my stress, including reading, walking, and I tried meditation, which seemed impossible for me because I could not stop my anxious mind from wandering. Then one of my providers recommended a program through the University of Minnesota, called the Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program. It is based on the teachings of Jon Kabat Zinn and began at the Univ of Massachusetts. It is an 8-week intensive course, once a week for 2.5 hours and one weekend retreat, with daily "homework" exercises that are about 1 hour in length. The basis of the class is that there are stressors in your life that will never go away (e.g., chronic diseases or injuries, work life and relationships), but changing your thinking can greatly improve your disease, your outlook, and how you care for yourself. It can change how you respond to stressful situations or even daily stress. It is a scientifically-based class, proven to improve a lot of health conditions (improve, not cure). As Jon Kabat Zinn wrote, "As long as you are breathing, there is more right with you than wrong with you." Isn't that a beautiful way to view yourself and your health?

It is very hard to change your thinking and retrain your brain. It is not simply "just doing it." It requires daily mind exercises to strengthen the brain, just as you need to exercise to strengthen muscles in your body. Although these exercises are mind-based, they are actually quite challenging. Trying to learn it from different books has not been helpful for me; having an instructor-led class has been a whole different story.

I have completed 2 weeks of the program and already I feel different. I am doing the daily exercises and I'm using the techniques in daily activities. I have experienced measurable improvements in my health already. Lower blood sugars which has resulted in lowering of my basal rates, and my blood pressure was considerably lower at my dr appointment yesterday (100/60). But most of all, my mind is changing how it thinks and reacts to daily stress. I am using a non-judgmental awareness throughout my day.

The book we are reading, "Full Catastrophe Living- Using the Wisdom of Your Body and Mind to Face Stress, Pain and Illness" by Jon Kabat Zinn is an amazing book with great insight. It demonstrates for me just how powerful the mind is and that how we think can greatly improve or compromise our health.

There is a workbook, with CDs, as well.

I set up my meditation and yoga space in my little home office. I keep my exercise mat with a little pillow ready for my daily practices. You don't need a separate room dedicated to this space; you can set up shop anywhere, even in your living room or bedroom. Basically wherever you can fit a yoga mat or blanket.

Here is a link to the program, if you are interested in learning more about it. If you are not in Minnesota, you can google MBSR to find a program close to your area. Most classes are in the evenings, from 6:30-9pm.

http://www.csh.umn.edu/program-areas-section/mindfulness-based-stress-reduction/mbsr-sessions/index.htm

And here is a link that talks about how this program was able to help one type 1 diabetic with her diabetes management.

http://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/explore-healing-practices/what-are-mind-body-therapies

You don't have to have a disease to benefit from this class. In my class of 20 people, there are more "healthy" people in the class than there are ones with illnesses. But there is an added benefit, in my opinion, for those of us who are using this class to assist in managing our health conditions and the stress that comes from having a health condition.

I am excited by how much I am learning and what I will be able to do by the end of this class, and I believe this is a great complimentary care to the regular medical care I receive. I'll keep you posted!

Just a reminder, I am not a health professional and am not offering health advice. I'm just talking about my own daily experiences.

Switching to a different pump.

2014-04-04T22:25:00.000-07:00

**Some of this info is repetitive to my previous post- but it's relevant to this post's topic so bear with me. **

I've been having some weird pancreatic functioning the last few days. You might think that's weird to say, since I have type 1 diabetes. But it is true. I've suspected for a while now that my own pancreas was still producing insulin, as I was having many unexplained low blood sugars. The last two days, I've had insulin delivery suspended most of this time and even though I ate normal (carbs and all), I've had down arrows on my CGM and low blood sugars. At my last endocrinologist appointment on St. Patricks day, my suspicion was confirmed. My c-peptide test showed I am still making insulin. I am one of those strange type 1s that makes enough insulin that if I only ate very small amount of carbs, my pancreas would likely be able to make enough insulin to cover it on its own. It would have to be a very small amount of carbs though. My physician said it might still be the "honeymoon phase," but that is pretty rare to still have 4 years after diagnosis. It is possible I may have this remaining functioning forever, or I might not. Only time will tell.

I received my new black Dexcom CGM today. My previous one is out of warranty. It was pink. I liked the pink, but I didn't like that at work, people would mistake it for a game or an iPod. I decided that the next one I got would be plain black.

In pump news, I am planning to switch from the Omnipod to the Animas Ping. My insurance is processing and reviewing the prior authorization request right now, so fingers crossed.

Here are the answers to a few questions I've been asked:

1. Why are you switching?
Because after OmniPod released its updated model last year, replacing the previous model, I've had nothing but problems with the new one. I know some people that have the OmniPod have not had issues. But that is not the case for me. I've had 14 documented pod failures since last fall, 7 of them have been this year. It has become a source of stress for me and I feel it is unreliable. After many calls placed to the company (after each pod failure), they were never able to help me. They would replace the defective pod but not able to explain why it continued to fail all the time. And I was losing a lot of insulin as a result of the pod failures. After discussing with my endo last month, he advised me most of his a OmniPod patients have been complaining to him about the same issue, and he advised me to consider switching to a different pump. We set up an appointment with the CDE to go over my options.

2. Why the Animas Ping?
I looked at the newest Medtronic release, the T-Slim and the Animas Ping. My physician stated he does not like the new Medtronic pump, as he says the built in CGM is not good. He said it reads inaccurately often. He recommended either the T-Slim or the Ping. The T-Slim was neat, but not for me. I didn't like the touch screen, nor the number of confirmation screens you have to go through to complete an action. I also didn't like that it didn't have a remote control to bolus with (like the Ping does). So every time when I would want to bolus or anything, I'd have to pull the pump from wherever it was strapped (leg strap for when wearing a dress or in bra). With the Ping I would be able to bolus from the glucose meter, not having to touch the actual pump. But the big deciding factor for me was that the new Ping/Dexcom CGM integrated pump is supposed to come out this year (allegedly) in the U.S. So I am excited about this technology.

Since I have already met my out of pocket for 2014, it is a good time to get the new pump. So fingers crossed the PA flies through insurance with no problems.

So that's the latest in the techy stuff.

I've got more to talk about but I'll save it for the next post.

All in a Monday.

2014-03-18T14:45:00.001-07:00

Yesterday was St. Patrick’s Day and it was also the day I had an appointment scheduled with my endo to review my 6 month blood work. I was happy that despite going through a very rough personal life since my last blood work in October 2013, my A1c only went up .2 points to 5.9. Since my last A1c, I lost a loved one, ate my way through 5 holidays, started a new work contract, and had my beloved sweet dog get diagnosed with terminal, aggressive cancer a week before Christmas. Let’s just say I wasn’t exactly in take-the-best-care-of-yourself mode. My stress levels were through the roof; not since my 3 auto-immune diagnoses in 2010 has my stress level been so high.

BP was a little high for me- 120/84, but I think that's because I was so frazzled trying to drive down the streets and find parking in St. Paul on ST. PATRICK'S DAY. The whole damn town is a party beginning at 9am. My clinic is located directly next to the slew of Irish pubs. It took me 35 minutes just to get into the parking ramp because of all the drunk leprachauns running around the streets and blocking the green lights, and all the streets that were closed or suddenly became ONE WAY in order to accommodate all the pedestrians.

The good news, my cholesterol levels and triglycerides were all excellent. My thyroid levels, however, were out of range, meaning a reduction in my Levothyroxine dosage. And my weight was decent, at 122 lbs, especially after the holidays, a long brutal winter, and very little exercise.

And a real interesting outcome- my C-Peptide levels show my body is still producing low amounts of insulin. The level has not changed since my diagnosis. Interesting, because when I was diagnosed 4 years ago, they told me I was in the “honeymoon phase” and that could last a year. Well, 4 years later I still have the same level of insulin production. Actually, between the first and second year of having type 1, my C-Peptide levels went UP. CRAZY, right???? I know that no one, including my physician, can answer this, but I wonder if I will keep producing insulin forever. What if? I believe anything can happen!

As you know I use the Omnipod insulin pump. It’s been how I’ve controlled my diabetes since diagnosis. I’ve never done MDI and I’ve never used a different pump. But recently (meaning in the last 9 months), I’ve been having A LOT of issues with my Omnipod pump. Technical issues- where the pump repeatedly fails, and also customer service issues- where I cannot get ANYONE to help me when I’ve called. I’ve placed 18 calls to them since last September to ask for help. So many pod failures- 13 that I’ve documented and reported to the company- in a short period of time. So much insulin lost as a result of the pod failures. And feeling as though I am not getting any assistance whatsoever when I call Insulet/Omnipod’s customer service. I have been reduced to tears more than once after getting off the telephone with their “customer service” department. I took my complaint to my CDE, who took it to her sales rep contacts at Insulet, who escalated it to the regional sales director in my area. I was told a manager in Insulet’s customer service department was special handling my case and all I needed to do was call and ask for her when I called or ask for another on-duty manager in her absence. So I did call, and asked for her, but she was out of the office. I was told by the customer service representative, who kept putting me on hold to try to find a manager, that the available on-duty managers were unwilling to take the call and they just told the customer service rep to “pass on a message to me from them.” Which by the way, didn’t address ANY of the questions I had asked about the pump malfunctioning or about receiving possible reimbursement for lost insulin. I can’t tell you how many unreturned calls to them I have placed. The customer service has been horrendous. I hang up with them and think Somebody shoot me; I can’t deal with them anymore.

Long story, but my endo told me that just about EVERY patient of his on the Omnipod has complained to him about repeated, ongoing pod failures since the release of their updated pump last year. He doesn’t know what is going on with them, but feels there is definitely an issue with the current model of Omnipod. I asked his opinion on the newest Medtronic 522 pump, but stated he does not like the CGM that is in the pump; states it is still inaccurate compared to the Dexcom G4. He actually recommended I take a closer look at the T-Slim pump, as he has received good feedback from his patients who use it.

I see the CDE this Thursday to discuss my pump questions. I am not sure whether I will switch from the Omnipod right this second. I will switch from them at some point. Firstly, I have several months’ worth of Omnipod supplies I need to use up before I switch to another pump. Also, I’d like to read more d-blogs and obtain more opinions from other T1’s who use different pumps to get their opinions.

So, all in all, the endo visit was good. I like my endo. He’s a bit of a wise ass, which I appreciate.

I’m in bed fighting an upper respiratory infection and wheezing, coughing my brains out today. I have covered my face, nose, lips and forehead with Aquaphor Healing Ointment because everything is so chapped from rubbing Kleenex against it (I swear it is the ONLY thing that works on my chapped skin). Sorry, no pictures. I have only left my bed to eat, go to the bathroom, and take care of my sweet doggy. Not to mention, I have man-voice right now, real deeeep. I have finally caught up on weeks’ worth of recorded Dr. Phil. I’m on the Z-pak, so I’m sure in a few days I will feel spiffy again.

"A Day in the Life" Follow Along with Pics

2014-03-16T22:29:00.001-07:00

This is just a day in my regular weekday life. From day to day, Monday through Friday, not much really varies. Here’s a day in the life, pieced together, in pictures.

My alarm goes off at 5:00am. On mornings like today when it’s bitter cold outside of the covers, I might lay there for a few minutes to enjoy the warmth just a little longer. Upon opening my eyes, I look at my Dexcom to get an idea of where things were at. I did check my blood sugar in the middle of the night and I bolused down a 133 blood sugar.

I feed Bella the Corgi and take her out to potty. Then I meander my way to the bathroom to start getting ready. This is what 5am looks like. No makeup; tired as hell.

I grab some of my freshly made vegetable juice to sip on the way to work.

Every morning I am in my car by 5:50am. It is still dark out, but luckily there isn’t much traffic at that time of morning. However the roads still suck because of all the ice and snow.On the way to work, I stopped at for coffee. Medium decaf soy latte with ½ shot of vanilla.

This is my work place at about 6:30am.

Working by the little light of my desk lamp. I get to work while it is still dark, and the lights are still out. It’s peaceful and I get the most work done at this time of the day.

This is what it looks like outside once the darkness has lifted.

My work bag. It has lots of room in it to carry a laptop, magazines, personal items, lunch bag, bottle(s) of water, etc. It is black with a shamrock green interior. I love this bag! I use one on wheels because of my back issues. I put lots of snacks in it, diabetes supplies, my lunch bag, and magazines. I use one on wheels, because it gets too heavy to carry with a purse, too. With my ongoing back pain, I can’t carry a work back unless it is on wheels.

Later, I take a quick bathroom break and upon passing the big mirror in the bathroom, I realize that both of my devices (CGM and Omnipod) are very visible under my shirt. Bummer. I try not to showcase them, although from time to time, it does happen.

Throughout the day, I check by blood sugar about every 2 hrs. I keep an “informal” system of tracking my bg when I am at work: I write the times down on a large sticky note, and record the reading. This is a great visual reminder to me to help me not forget to check it every two hours when I am busy at work. It also helps me spot trends in a simplistic way. At the end of the day, I toss the sticky and start a new one the next day. Here is a picture of that, although I do not know why my BGs were running so much higher today than is usual. Oh well. That’s Diabetes!

I like to decorate diabetes whenever possible. On this day, I colored and then cut out a little pink heart for my lancet bottle. Other times, I love to decorate my pod with animal print stickers and rhinestones. Why not?

I forgot to take a picture of my breakfast, snacks and lunches, but what I can tell you is I rotate between eating a 2-egg white scramble with vegetables in it and a ½ baked sweet potato (plain) with maybe ¼ of an avocado chopped up and sprinkled on top of the eggs. OR I will have a bowl of organic, gluten-free oatmeal (I use EcoPlanet brand in Maple flavor), with a tablespoon of organic apple butter swirled in, ¼ cup raw walnuts, almond milk IF I have any in the fridge, and a small squirt (maybe a teaspoon) of agave nectar. I bolus and then wait 20 minutes to begin eating the oatmeal.

My work day ends at 3:00pm, and I drive straight home because my dog needs to go potty by then and can’t hold it any longer. If I have errands to run/shopping to do, it gets done after I’ve had a chance to run home first. The dog comes first!

Once I’m home, I change out of my clothes and into my jammies , robe and slippers. I usually put my hair up on top of my head or in a ponytail to get it out of the way. I sit with my dog and do some quiet reading of the new stories online, or maybe read a couple chapters of the book I’m reading.

I make time to do my ongoing physical therapy exercises; approx. 30 minutes.

Then I get up, make my breakfast and lunch for the next day, pack snacks, clean the dishes, and make supper. I double check to make sure everything I need is in my work bag and purse (work ID, keys, all diabetes supplies, tea thermos, etc. )Then I shower, pick out my clothes (including accessories and shoes) for the next day, and essentially wind down to get ready for bed. I go to bed fairly early.

So there you have it. Not too interesting, but it works for me. This girl runs on routine.

10 Random Facts About Me.

2014-02-23T16:24:00.000-08:00

I thought I'd return to my blog with a fun, light-hearted post. I don't think I have a lot of interesting factoids, but here are a few I came up with.

1. I grew up on a family fruit farm.

2. I am very organized. My drawers are stacked and organized in a certain way, my closet is organized by rainbow-order, and every food cupboard is organized by category and things must be facing forward. I don't care if your house is messy or cluttered,that doesn't bother me, but if mine is I can't focus on anything until it is fixed.

3. My current A1c is 5.7. I am due for another check soon.

4. I am sensitive to loud noise- kids screaming, loud vacuums, blow dryers, loud tv volumes, etc. I buy appliances that are "quiet" models.

5. I come from a very large extended family.

6. I've used anti-wrinkle creams since I was 23 years old (I'm in my 30s now!). I am grateful to the department store woman who told me to start back then.

7. I have debilitating social anxiety.

8. My goal is to move to a warm climate while I am still young. I HATE snow and cold weather.

9. I've never weighed 130 lbs and I've never really "dieted." I have always followed the rule of moderation. I eat what I want, just not too much. I believe in eating something until you have reached the point of diminishing returns- when the next bite doesn't taste as good as the first- stop eating it, you are probably no longer hungry and are continuing to eat the food for the wrong reason (boredom, camaraderie because everyone else continues to nibble, it was expensive/not too much left/don't want to waste it, etc.)

10. I am very frugal with my money, but I am not cheap. Here's how I define it. Frugal means it only affects you (cutting back on purchases, writing out a monthly budget and following it, meal planning to avoid impulse food shopping, waiting to purchase something until you get a rock bottom price, buying most things 2nd hand, not wasting, etc.). Cheap is when it affects others (not tipping well, re gifting, etc.)

I'm in the process of drafting my next post, "A Day in the Life." It will take you through an average day with me! See you soon x0x0

I'm back...

2014-02-04T10:05:00.001-08:00

I took a bloggy break to manage life stuff, but I'll have a post up later today...

How a diabetic celiac packs for a trip.

2013-11-18T09:43:00.000-08:00

If you have diabetes or celiac disease, you know that travel can be a daunting experience. Packing for your disease takes a lot of planning and a lot of room in your suitcase. I find road trips or driving to a location MUCH more desirable than flying, due to the number of items I need to pack. However, I recently flew to see my family for a long weekend, so I’m going to show you, in pictures, how I packed for a 3-day trip.

Firstly, I suggest you start writing your list of things to pack beginning a week before the flight. Keep it out on the counter, so you are able to add or remove items as you think of them. Waiting until the last minute to pack will almost ensure you forget something you are going to need.

I started off the day by putting on a new insulin pump pod and CGM on prior to the flight. I don’t want to have to change either device during the flight. Also, I wore easy, comfortable clothes for the flight.

I packed a diabetes “grab bag” of supplies, using my 50/50 Medical Supply bag. Although I would have only needed 1-2 pods (pump supplies) for the weekend, I packed several plus an extra Omnipod PDM (the handheld device).

I packed lots of Multi-Clix lancet refills, an extra 50 Accu-chek Nano test strips (in addition to a bottle of 50 in my purse), 1 extra lancing device, 2 needles, a Justin’s Maple Almond Butter individual pack, and several forms of fast-
acting glucose.

I couldn’t forget my stickers for decorating my pod.

This little pack zips up quite nicely and it went right into my purse for easy access.

For personal care supplies, I packed my prescriptions, baby powder for my hair, makeup, toothpaste/brush, hair clips, deodorant, allergy creams, Benadryl, face/eye cream. This zipped up nicely and went in my suitcase. This is a very old Victoria’s Secret travel case that I have had for many years. I have never been able to find one exactly like it. It’s been a staple in my traveling.

Not pictured: 3 oz containers of my own shampoo, conditioner and soap, since I am allergic to every kind out there, and the ones I use are not found at most stores. Also a little mini honey bear. These all went into a Ziploc bag that would have to follow the security check’s “3 oz containers in 1 ziploc bag” liquid rule. I had so much shoved in that Ziploc bag that it wouldn’t close all the way. They were sideways/upside down, whatever way they had to be to fit in that bag. Here was the little honey. I thought it was so cute!

I only used one small suitcase (I didn’t check any bags!), so I had to be very selective with what I chose to bring. I brought a couple outfits, 1 pair of shoes stored in a gallon-sized Ziploc bag in addition to the Nikes I wore on the plane, a mini cutting board from Macy’s Martha Stewart line (I need something to cut food on upon arrival at my dad’s house, as his cutting boards are all cross-contaminated with gluten), phone charger, chapsticks, a birthday card, and printed recipes for my sister. In the side pockets I packed two Go Picnic lunches, so I’d have food to eat when my plane landed at 10pm. I knew my dad wouldn’t have any “safe” gluten free food options for me and I was going to be starving! This would buy me time to get to the grocery store to buy a few food items for the weekend.

“Can I fit in your suitcase?”

Bella doggy was well taken care of during my long weekend. I sure did miss her, though!

Next, is my purse. I carried a large purse, my Louis Vuitton, which I never use because it is too heavy. But my other purses were too small for traveling. I packed all THIS crap in my purse: Glucagon kit, glucose tabs, juice box, wallet, “FLY” letter from Endocrinologist that states I am diabetic and celiac and need to carry supplies and food with me, pump supply bag, raw almonds, albuterol inhaler, word search, Prevention magazine, kleenexes, sunglasses, Mike & Ikes and CGM.

You cannot even imagine HOW MANY things had to go on the security belt. Multiple devices: iPad, iPhone, CGM, Pump, needles, bag of liquids, insulin, food, shoes, fly letter for security to read in case of any confusion. They must have thought “Who is this crazy girl??”

Upon arrival, I stopped at a grocery store to pick up some eggs, fruit and a couple GF frozen food items that I could heat and eat for the weekend. Since I did not have access to cookware that was not cross contaminated, I did not buy food I would have to cook. If it were a longer trip, I would have driven the 9 hours instead of flown, so that I was able to load my car with my pans, toaster oven, cooking utensils, and bags of groceries to eat. I bought a larger vehicle 2 years ago when I realized that my small sporty car was too small to transport everything I needed for a road trip and fit the dog, too. Yep, celiac disease actually influenced what vehicle I purchased. Basically every time I travel by car, it looks like I’m moving.

I had a great time while I was there. I was invited to a birthday party. Due to celiac disease, I was unable to eat any of the food there, so I stopped at Chipotle on the way there. While everyone else ate this

I ate this

But I choose to focus on the people and the special time I had with them, and not focus on the food I cannot eat. No time to feel sorry for yourself when you are having so much fun!

I did not have any issues at the airports coming or going, so that was a huge blessing. My blood sugars were high on the flight there, because I suspended my pump AND carb loaded prior to the flight. Lesson learned: one or the other will do.
So there you have it. This is how I fly.

Don't make food your focus at the holidays.

2013-11-09T16:35:00.000-08:00

Here in Minnesota winter is on its way and today brought with it extremely high winds, not much sun and cold temps. No snow yet (whew). It is not weather you want to be outside in. And I'm also trying to watch my budget and anywhere I can think of going involves spending money. So today was a stay indoors and catch up on reading day. I get behind during the week reading the blogs I love, magazines, emails. It was also a lazy cooking day. Breakfast was scrambled egg whites and Eco Planet oatmeal (which is really millet and quinoa) and is AMAZING. I craved oatmeal this morning, but with type 1 diabetes, it requires a little bit of planning for me. I gave myself insulin for the 27g of carb 15 min ahead of time and made sure to eat my protein (eggs) first. It worked and 2 hours post-eating my bg (blood glucose) was 110. YESSSS. I can't say that my dinner went as well- I made a chicken quesadilla on an Udi's Gluten free tortilla (30g carb) with chicken breast, 1/4 avocado and 2 tablespoons of salsa, totaling what I guessed was about 45g of carb. I bolused only 10 minutes ahead, since my bg was 82. Well,1 hour post I'm sitting at 179 and the CGM is reporting a sidewards-up arrow. Fail. My body tolerated the morning carbs but I guess eating them again for dinner was maybe not the best idea. My bg is sensitive to carbs and it doesn't take much to send it soaring. Lesson learned; tomorrow will be a low carb day (a normal day for me).

Sometimes I like to "treat" myself with carbs but it seems like I always regret it. I now will chase my blood sugar around for the rest of the night. For some people, that's the trade off and they don't mind the swings as much. But I do. I aim for very tight blood sugar control so seeing a 140 or higher will send me rage bolusing to get it back under 100.

Tomorrow I will be making a batch of homemade chili (I know, I ALWAYS make chili) and chopping up salad material for the week. I also thawed a pack of Applegate All Natural hotdogs for a quick eat option (no bun). I have a butternut squash and a few sweet potatoes to bake, too (I use earth balance "butter" and black pepper on them). I like to keep my prepackaged food to a minimum for health reasons. I also think prepackaged food is a waste of money for this frugal girl. Making something completely from scratch (like chili) is inexpensive and yields a high quantity of food. I don't use any chili starters, I season it with herbs and single-ingredient spices that don't have sodium. Homemade also ensures a GLUTEN FREE meal that is safe from cross contamination, which is a necessity for this celiac diabetic.

I've been feeling tempted with all of the holiday food recipes I've been seeing posted online. Lots of gluten free holiday desserts. But I am trying to maintain the weight loss I achieved so I plan to make some healthy alternative options. There are lots of gluten free desserts, but they are no healthier than their gluten-laden counterparts. Just as much fat, salt, carbs and calories. Having to follow 2 medical diets changed my perspective on holidays. I no longer focus on food as the main event, not even on Thanksgiving. My focus is on the people- the family and friends. I want everyone to eat what they want to eat, but as for me, I will eat in moderation this year just like I did last year. I didn't walk away from the holidays bloated or 5 lbs heavier. I didn't feel guilty for what I ate. I didn't have blood sugar swings. I felt GOOD and happy. If you make food your focus during the holidays, you will either feel guilty (for eating poorly and gaining more weight or having blood sugar swings) or feel deprived (for not eating what everyone else was eating). You may even feel sick. So my advice is to focus on the games on tv, the board games you play, the conversations/ interactions you have. Focus on the healthy food options and have a small nibble on the other stuff.

You can't live in a bubble, even though it probably would be easier.

2013-11-03T11:29:00.002-08:00

I envy extroverts. People that socialize effortlessly and stress-freely. They seem to really enjoy social gatherings. I used to be an extrovert, pre-2010, the year I was diagnosed with multiple autoimmunes. I used to accept every invite to every social gathering and I looked forward to each one.

Nowadays, when, IF, I accept an invite, it is met with much anxiety. Will it involve physical activities that I cannot participate in? Will there be food I can eat? What do I need to pack in my purse? Is the activity something that will affect my diabetes and that I should start planning for in advance, insulin-wise? What if my diabetes isn't behaving that day? Is it at someone's house where I may come in contact with one of my allergens? Do they have cats? Will all the food choices be glutened or cross contaminated, leaving me to eat my GF protein bar while everyone else enjoys a delicious meal?

These are just some of the questions that I must answer when considering whether to accept an invite or not. There are times when I feel my presence at an event may hinder the "fun," as in instances where many of the plans would need to be changed in order to accommodate my needs and so I may choose not to attend. I never want to feel like a burden and I also don't want to be viewed as a "downer" for having to constantly say " I can't eat that," or "I can't do that." Having multiple chronic health issues DOES alter your social life, and in my case, hinders my self esteem/self confidence.

On an average day, my life is good. I'm happy. I Iike my job. I love my dog. I enjoy cooking A LOT. I read a ton- books, blogs, magazines, journals, you name it. I like talking to family and friends. But when it comes to going out, my social anxiety seems to really take over things. I panic. I sweat. I don't want to go. I have cried before out of sheer anxiety. My life is good until I receive an invite to step outside of my bubble.

Situations that involve only family, or are one on one with a close friend do not cause me anxiety. It is parties, dinner invites at other people's houses, holiday gatherings, group gatherings and work events that send me into a panic. I will do just about anything to get out of them. And when I do get out of it, a wave of relief washes over me and my mind relaxes. I feel safe again.

I originally thought this was a phase I was going through and that once I had adjusted to living with chronic illnesses and allergies that this would all go away. Instead, it has intensified.

It is the one area of my life that I seek to improve. I want to be happy in ALL areas of my life, especially my social life. I'm working on it and feel confident I will overcome this anxiety.

Sometimes your body breaks.

2013-10-28T15:14:00.002-07:00

I returned home after spending all last week at my moms house, to spend time with our loved one, whom we lost at home last Tuesday. The whole situation is difficult to talk about. It was a long week of planning and executing funeral arrangements, what felt like hundreds of telephone calls, and nonstop visits from friends and family. Early mornings, late nights, and not much sleep. Also, there was a lot of running around- errand things to do. There wasn't always healthy, low carb and gluten free food options available everywhere I went, so I either skipped eating altogether or would eat a gluten free high carb junk food snack. The combo of no sleep, no down time, high emotions and anxiety, poor nutrition, definite dehydration and the stress of all the future stuff one has to plan when losing a loved one left me worn to the bone, sick, weak and exhausted. Sunday (yesterday) after being around a total of 4 different cats on Saturday (a bad allergy for me), my body just couldn't take it anymore and it gave out. I had a severe allergic reaction along with an asthmatic attack. I took Benadryl and used my inhaler, took a shower and changed clothes. But it did not improve overnight and turned into chest pain accompanied by light headedness. I landed in the emergency room, diagnosed with pneumonia and exhaustion. I missed what should have been my first day back at work today, and I'm hoping the antibiotics work at loosening this crap stuck in my chest so I can return to work, because as a contractor, it's all unpaid time off.

Today I slept. I mean really slept. I got up at some point, ate 3 egg whites, plopped down in the recliner chair and slept for another 4 hours. I'm working toward returning to good health by eating lots of lean protein, giving what my body needs to heal itself from illness, also getting 8 hours of sleep and resting through the day, and drinking lots of water.

I'm in the process of returning to me and returning to health and happiness. Things will get better from here.

Self-Care while under stress.

2013-10-11T19:13:00.000-07:00

Well a lot's been going on. I'm tired, slightly crabby and a bit anti-social. As a result of not striving to take awesome care of myself like I normally do, I have experienced blood sugar swings, swelling in my feet, chronic neck/shoulder pain and noticable bags under my eyes. Going through stressful times can make you put self-care on the back burner. But when you have chronic diseases, that's never a good idea.

So starting tomorrow, I've set a goal of getting myself back on track. Eating regularly, eating healthy food, hydrating myself with lots and lots of water, and the hardest- trying to get more sleep every night. Between blood sugar swings, CGM and pod alarms, high anxiety, and oh- a dog that clearly has her days and nights mixed up right now- I don't think I've slept more than 2 or 3 hours straight in several weeks. I'm waking or getting up 4+ times a night. Then my alarm goes off at 5am and it's time to get up for work and I'm dragging.

So tomorrow I won't be working (my first Saturday I haven't worked in a long time) and I won't be putting much on the schedule. I was planning to drive over to the Minneapolis Diabetes Expo, but I'm so dang tired that the thought of walking around the Expo all day exhausts me. And my feet hurt, A LOT, because I am a person who incessantly paces when I talk on the phone and I've been on the phone A LOT lately. So instead, I put sleeping in (as late as my dog will let me)and catching up on non-medical related reading on tomorrow's agenda. And a scheduled oil change for my car in the afternoon. And that's it. Weather pending, I'm going to sit on my deck, drink tea, read and watch the leaves fall from the trees. Phone off for a few hours. Just me, the dog, and nature.

When things are stressful, I've noticed that with most people what gets neglected is self-care. But long after the stressful event is over, you will have to live with the consequences of not taking care of yourself. I've always been a big fan of Martha Stewart and when I saw she had a new book out, Living the Good Long Life- A practical Guide to caring for yourself and others- I bought it. It was kind of expensive and if I had the patience I would have ordered it for cheaper online. Oh well. I'm thinking now that I've started reading it that it might be targeted more toward people older that I, it says it's for "living your healthiest life after 40," but I think it might be for an older crowd than that. Either way, she has great tips in the book that apply to people of any age. It talks about sleep, mindful eating, developing healthy rituals, creating a healthy outlook regardless of your health status and of course, gardening. It also talks about taking care of yourself while you are tasked with taking care of others who may be ill, or aging parents.

I also want to say a big thanks to everyone who has sent awesomely nice notes and messages of support. Thank you! I am lucky to have a great online community of friends.

Well, it's 9pm and I think it's time for me to wind down for the evening. Time to take a quick bath to wash the day off. Then snuggle time with the 4-legged furry monster who has been under the kitchen table this whole time licking my feet and begging for attention.

"You have Stage 4, metastatic cancer."

2013-10-03T16:41:00.004-07:00

This is the news delivered to my family two weeks ago today. I got the call at work, right after lunch. A call from my mom so hysterical she can't speak. I don't know what's wrong. She is just screaming, and eventually inhales enough air to say "HE'S GOT CANCER...EVERYWHERE." She's in a public place when she gets the news and I hear a woman in the background asking her "Ma'am, are you okay?" The answer to that, is no, we are not okay.

I feel faint and my heart starts to beat weird. Physically sick to my stomach. I can't go back to my desk. I don't know where to go. I run to the bathroom and stay. And stay. And then drive home.

Diagnosis: Stage 4 Renal Cell Carcinoma of the right kidney that has metastasized to his other kidney, both lungs, brain and trachea. The PET scan today will tell us if it has spread to his bones. But it won't matter either way. There's no treatment available. "Palliative treatment only." Prognosis: 2 months. He's only 63 years old.

I make a call to the Mayo Clinic; a plea for help. A second opinion. Hope. Anything. Their review yields the same outcome.

He had no symptoms, no warning. No signs of trouble until two days before the diagnosis. A healthy person with no health issues. We never suspected that kind of news.

A family in mourning. Grief strucken. Disbelief. Tears to the point of dehydration headaches. No sleep. Nightmares. Praying for a miracle, but would settle for more time. Lots of I Love Yous. Sleeping pills and anti-anxiety medication prescriptions. Funeral arrangements.

Please pray for my family.

Developing a Fear of Carbs

2013-09-09T17:14:00.001-07:00

I'm not sure if this is something I really need to be concerned about, everything is probably just fine but I have developed a fear of eating carbs. I feel that whenever I eat them, I have such an undesirable outcome (read: high blood sugar or blood sugar swings), that I have found myself avoiding them altogether. Good things have come out of this- I have lost weight and inches, and my BGs are pretty good and very predictable on a regular basis. My A1c has been at or below 6.0 since last November when I started eating low carb. I have been able to sustain tight control of my blood sugar without having many lows. I believe the bad association I have with carbs is a direct result of the bad blood sugars I get from eating them. It reminds me of when I was a child and I got a stomach bug while at the baby sitters. As a result of the stomach bug I threw up my macaroni and cheese. I wasn't able to eat macaroni and cheese again for over 20 years, because I associated it with stomach pain and nausea. I have developed a similar association with carbs. It's interesting how we develop relationships with food based on our individual experiences.

Do you fear any foods? Are there some you completely avoid (even thought you really like them) because of how they affect your blood sugar? I know that as diabetics we have been taught that "no food is off limits," and that we can eat anything as long as we bolus for it. But is that really true? Why is my bg SO MUCH BETTER (as are all my numbers) when I eat low carb? I have a few friends in the D community that eat low carb and have had good results. How come this way of eating isn't taught in the diabetes education classes I had to take?

I guess since my fear of carbs isn't harming me, I shouldn't worry about it. I don't like that one category of food can wreak so much havoc on my health. I don't like to feel limited, but the truth is diabetes does limit your diet. You can eat what you want, but you are going to pay for it. I fear bad blood sugar more than I desire carbs, if that makes since. But it would be nice to eat the occasional dessert without having fear or bad BG repercussions.

Hiding diabetes.

2013-07-23T17:11:00.000-07:00

Day two of new job.

The extreme tiredness that one experiences when your brain is trying to absorb new info for 8 consecutive hours has set in. I feel like I stuffed 20 lbs of potatoes in a 10 lb sack. I don't think I'm eating enough. I'm definitely not going to bed early enough. And the 1 hr commute home everyday (from city rush hour) is killing me. But I like the job and the people.

My diabetes numbers have been GREAT, but at a price. Since I have been trying to keep my diseases a secret for as long as possible, I have been eating very small amounts of carbs in order to avoid having the CGM beep with highs. So breakfast has been 3 egg whites, no carbs. Lunch has been a salad with almost no dressing. And I have carby snacks and juice boxes on hand when I see I'm dropping below 80. I eat only enough to get it in the low 100s. I have not beeped one time in two days. I only check my blood sugar in the bathroom stall. My pump is currently on my stomach; virtually invisible under the right clothing. No one seems to have noticed anything. People talk to me about normal people things. I felt NORMAL for the first time since being diagnosed with diabetes 3 years ago. I'm enjoying this for as long as I can, because I know as soon as people find out I have diabetes, I will start to hear the stories we've all heard- who they know that has diabetes or died from it. I will get 1000 questions on my diet, diabetic symptoms, my family's health history, and get told how I don't "look" like a diabetic (what does one look like, exactly). I will have judgments placed on me when people see me eating sugary things.

I have had diabetes long enough that I had almost forgotten what it felt like to not have it (or to not be treated like I have it). It's 100% non-disease related conversations. It's like old times. It made me sad and made me really miss my "old" life, the one without diabetes. I want to hang on to people not knowing I have it for as long as possible.

A look in my fridge.

2013-07-22T16:49:00.000-07:00

I like to do this blog subject every once in a while, and I wish more bloggers would do this, too. Aren't you curious what other people eat?

I want to show you what this diabetic/celiac/allergic-girl eats.

This is basically what my fridge looks like at the beginning of every week. It's full of veggies, because I do my grocery shopping over the weekend.

A break down of the left and right sides

Nothing too exciting going on in here. On the left, hormone-free eggs (3 dozen), hummus, dairy free cheeses, Zevia soda, tofu, GF tortillas (Rudi's brand), and a few veggies. On the right GF bread (Glutino multi-seed bread), Bragg's liquid aminos, Litehouse dressing, almond milk, Bragg's Braggberry dressing, guacamole salsa, earth balance butter, soy creamer, raw sauerkraut, red hot, ketchup and fresh green juice. Also, a Bragg's organic apple cider vinegar drink, Limeade flavored. It's straight up vinegar and lime juice. I was pulling faces drinking it like the first time I drank tequila. It's not for the faint hearted. But it's so good for you!

In the drawers, just more veggies, organic gala apples and some bagged salad

If you are wondering where the meat is, it's in the freezer. I have chicken sausage in there along with organic chicken breasts.

The green juice was transferred into this for freshness for the day

This is what I put in my green juice I used 2 apples in the batch instead of 3, about 4-5 romaine leaves, 3 cucumbers, 1 broccoli stalk, 3-4 stalks of celery.

I drank it out of a wine glass afterwards

After I cleaned and dried the lettuce, I put everything in bags for the week. I also pre-cleaned and bagged up my individual juicing combinations for quicker juicing this week. I packed my salad for lunch for the next day, too.

Then there was the cleanup from juicing

Lastly, today was my first day at work

I put a potty pad down for my dog, since my drive to work is longer and I didn't want her to have an accident. But apparently the purpose of the potty pad was lost on her.

But at least there were no potty accidents! Today was a good first day. It helped ease some of the worry I had about whether I made the right decision (I need to stop second guessing myself all the time). My mind is fried from cramming so much new information in it. It's time to go sit on the couch and watch some mindless tv.

New job challenge: Sharing your disease info.

2013-07-21T06:03:00.000-07:00

Friday was my last day at my job. I was a little relieved, as this week has been IMPOSSIBLE for me to avoid distractions and get work done. There is something about knowing it's your last week at work- your mind will simply not stay focused anymore. My work peeps were great- they threw me a mini party complete with giftsc and a very sweet card. They bought me Reese's peanut butter cups, since they had seen me eat them before so knew they'd be "safe" (gluten free) for me to eat. I am always humbled and grateful when someone attempts to understand my illnesses. And then someone explained the thought process that went into picking out my gifts- making sure the food stuff was gluten free, and making sure the gift stuff was rubber free. I was blown away. It touched my heart. Especially because I work hard to downplay my illnesses as much as possible; I don't talk about them much at work so most people think my diseases are relatively easy to manage. But clearly people were paying attention and that is just sweet.

One of my supervisors was talking to me near the end of the day on Friday, and what she said was so heartwarming, I almost teared up. She said "I know you have been through a lot, and you have to deal with more challenges everyday than anyone I know, but you do it with such grace. You have every reason to have a bad attitude, but instead you have a positive one. You could be Eyore, but instead choose to be Tigger."

Firstly, to have someone acknowledge that my life is actually hard- wow- I just didn't know that anyone noticed.

I start my new job on Monday. I made the right move, but it still is scary. I have to start over with introducing my diseases to my new team and management- ALWAYS a terrifying thing because I worry whether they will wish they hadn't hired me. I wonder if they will worry whether I'm going to miss a bunch of work, or if my diseases will impact my work quality/quantity, etc. I'm already developing a plan in my head for how to introduce things. My diabetes always introduces itself- I wear an insulin pump visible on my upper arm. It also beeps, as does my Dexcom CGM. There's also the every-two-hour blood sugar checks, so there's really no hiding it for any period of time. But the other things, celiac disease and crazy allergies, I will try to hide for as long as I am able. You know, try to spread out the negative stuff that I don't like to highlight, instead of giving it all at once. Not giving out any unnecessary information about myself that I don't need to. I want people to get to know ME FOR ME, not me as related to my illnesses. I can bring my own food everyday- lots of people pack their lunches everyday. No one needs to know I can't have gluten. They will just think I'm a very healthy eater (which I am!). If someone offers me something with gluten, I'll just say no thank you. They don't need the gory details why I can't have it. I think I'd rather have someone think I'm a picky eater than know I have a disease that prevents me from eating it. In time, sure, I'll probably spill the beans. But at least while I'm new, I'm choosing to lay low. I'd like to put off being known as the "sick person" at work for as long as possible. If I had my way, my employer and coworkers wouldn't know about any of my illnesses, ever.

I DON'T want to be viewed as a problem when I start a new job. I am happy that I succeeded in not coming across that way at my most recent job- that I was liked and viewed highly; that my work was praised. I worked hard to have my work and my accomplishments outshine my diseases.

My insurance runs through the end of the month, at which point I will begin my $600/month COBRA payments to continue my insurance (OUCH). It will mainly be used to pay for my prescriptions. I won't be using it to pay for doctor visits, since I won't be able to take time off for the next 5 months (the joy of being a contract worker with no employee benefits, including vacation time). My prescriptions would cost me MORE than my COBRA payments each month, so I'm still making out ahead by paying for COBRA. Since I met my out-of-pocket maximum for the year a long time ago, all of my prescriptions are covered at 100%. But this week when I picked up one of my prescriptions- a cream I have to use for skin allergy reactions- I looked at the cash price of the tube of cream. It was $497.99. WHHAAAAAT! Add to that my monthly insulin ($350), test strips ($339), and about 4 other prescriptions I pick up monthly (that cost less), it adds up to A LOT of dough. Yowzer. It ain't cheap being sick.

I'm starting back up on juicing tomorrow. I went NUTS at the farmer's market this morning; purchasing 5 bags worth of fresh, pesticide-free produce for juicing. I'm not sure it's actually cheaper to get stuff at my farmer's market than at the grocery store. But I like to support the local farmers so if I have to pay a little extra so be it. I went as soon as I woke up- I threw on a tee shirt and shorts, threw my dirty hair up in a ponytail, slipped on some sandals and sunglasses and off I went. I wanted to get there early before the selection was gone. I used to juice on a regular basis, but fell away from it because it is time intensive and somewhat expensive to do. I'd like to say that I'm going to stay committed to making fresh vegetable juice every morning before work, but that means I'd have to commit to getting up probably 1/2 hour earlier and I just don't know how likely that is. I might make it the night before, even though I know that the juice loses some of it's nutrients overnight.

Tomorrow is Sunday, which means it's prep and chop day. The day I make ALL meals for the entire work week- breakfasts (usually an egg bake that will last all week), lunches and suppers. I also pre-measure out all snacks. So I'll likely sleep in, start the morning with a cup of decaf coffee or tea and a nice egg white scramble. Maybe do some light reading and relaxing. Then it's turn the music up time and start cookin'! Later in the day I will put together a few outfits for the week, and then stock my work bag with glucose sources, my own pens and office supplies (since I can't use ones with rubber grips) and everything else I might need. It sure takes some of the stress off when you are prepared ahead of time.

Change is good.

2013-07-09T17:54:00.002-07:00

A big change took place on Monday. I put my notice in at my current job. It was a hard decision, as you will see why. I traded in my full-time, regular employment status position for a contract position at another company. What this means is that I will not have any benefits with my new job- no vacation time, no health insurance. And the contract only runs through the end of the year. It was something I thought over very very carefully. I made the decision in order to improve my financial situation. You see, although I am frugal and have "gotten by"at my last job, things have been VERY tight and I've had to cut many things out of my life that I enjoy in order to "get by." When I took my current job, I did so after a period of unemployment and needed income and insurance. However, it was a very very large cut in pay from what I have previously been making. It was a fine job, working for nice people, but I discovered it was too low skill and sort of very boring, along with low pay. I missed the challenge of my previous work. This new contract position I accepted is making a substantially higher income; in the same range as I am used to making. The trade off is that I will have to pay for COBRA continuation of benefits at the hefty price of $600/month. There is a very good chance there will be an opportunity to turn this into a regular employee status position by the end of the year, which I will work hard to do.

Now as a person with T1 diabetes, celiac disease, grave's disease, allergies and recovering from a spinal cord injury, it is terrifying to take a job that does not have health insurance OR vacation/sick days (or days off for dr appointments). COBRA is only available for 18 months, which means I will have to work my TAIL off to turn this position into something permanent, or find something else within the company that is permanent. The biggest risk would be coming to the end of the contract without having an opportunity for either another contract or a permanent position- I would not be able to afford the COBRA if I had no employment. This is a very scary thing for an unmarried chica like myself who does not have a spouse's insurance plan (or income) as backup. The other risk of course is that I NEED to maintain perfect health for the next 5 months, or at least plan on going into work sick if I do get sick.

Sometimes you have to take a gamble in life in order to get ahead. I realized that there wasn't opportunity for growth in my current position. I don't want to struggle financially or have things always be "tight." I don't want to always carry medical debt. I just simply need to make more money.

I am a person who has a lot of faith and I believe this situation WILL work. I have faith in myself that I will have a full time employment offer by the end of the year.

It's a big decision, a little scary if I think too much into it because of the risks, but I need to just focus on the positive. I hope you all will be praying for me!

Everything has been pretty good this week. Blood sugars are hanging steady, allergies are sort of in check (except tonight when I had the crazy idea to bear hug my dog, rubbing my whole face and neck in her face and ending up with hives all over my neck, face, and arms). I know better than that. Nothing that a bath and a Benadryl can't fix.

Tonight I made a quick dinner- flash fried some organic chicken breasts in coconut oil with salt, pepper and garlic powder and then splashed on just a little Bragg's Liquid Aminos (it's a gluten free soy sauce) on top. I ate that with a side of green beans and then snacked on a few organic corn tortilla chips with bean dip. Dessert is strawberries sliced up in a bowl and some brewed iced herbal (decaf) tea from Teavana.

Tomorrow after work I have a friend coming over who wants some assistance in meal planning for the week. I've been working on a take-home instruction list for him tonight. He likes the idea of doing all the weekly cooking on Sunday so your weeknights after work are freed up. His criteria is that it needs to be simple, quick recipes that are also very healthy and cover all the food groups. No problem at all; I do that every week anyway. I'm making him a sample meal to try as well.

Time to call it a night. I've been go go going all day and it's time to put my feet up. :)

Gluten Free Egg Mcmuffin.

2013-07-07T08:44:00.000-07:00

While I usually prefer to eat low-carb, on the one of the weekend days (usually Saturday but this weekend it is Sunday) I will usually allow myself to indulge a little. Not go overboard and binge on carbs, but I allow myself to eat more carbs than I normally would during the week. Today my indulgence was making a gluten free egg Mcmuffin.

Here are the ingredients. I started with spraying my pan with non-stick gluten free olive oil spray to fry my egg and lunch meat. I use hormone-free/antibiotic free egg. For meat, I use Castlewood brand (found at Sam's Club), because it is gluten free and lower in sodium and fat. Since I try to steer clear of dairy as much as possible, I use Go Veggie! cheese slices. To me, they taste just like regular cheese slices with a slight texture difference. I use Food For Life gluten free multi-seed english muffins. These come in many different flavors, so if you don't like seeds you can get brown rice ones or plain white ones. I get these at Lakewinds, my local co-op but I'm sure Whole Foods sells them, too. After toasting, I lightly butter them with Earth Balance Organic Whipped buttery spread (dairy and gluten free).

The thing I learned about gluten free english muffins is that they don't really brown when toasting. I toasted mine twice at the highest level on the toaster and got mild brown-y toast-y spots. However, even though they may not look toasted, they are as crunchy and tasty the way that an english muffin should be.

Afterwards, I assembled everything and voila. A filling and tasty breakfast for 40g of carb.

A day in the life of a type 1 diabetic celiac with life-altering allergies.

2013-07-05T18:37:00.000-07:00

Do you ever look at the people around you and wonder what their story is? How people (like us) can look so normal and healthy on the outside that most people would never question or guess there was anything wrong with us. I have heard this statement so many times, “Wow, you LOOK so healthy; I never would have guessed that you have XXX (fill in the blank here- spinal cord injury/diabetes/celiac disease/autoimmune thyroid disease/life-altering allergies)." I am amazed myself that I can make it look so easy to others that they don't know I have multiple diseases. It's a skill.

So what’s it like to be a type 1 diabetic/celiac with life-altering allergies? It’s a very analytical lifestyle. If you are a diabetic, you are analyzing carbs and blood sugar trends. If you are celiac, you are analyzing menus, ingredients, cross-contamination risks. If you are a person with severe allergies, you are analyzing your environment, ingredients, etc. If you are all of these, like me, you are analyzing EVERYTHING.

Having severe allergies to all detergents (in bath soaps, shampoos/conditioners, household cleaners, hair products, laundry products, makeup, sunscreen, deodrant, eye drops, self tanners), many adhesives and all antibiotic ointments, and carba-mix which is rubber (think rubber gripped pens, soles of shoes, spatulas, all rubber gloves, cell phone bumpers, rubber bands, hoses, certain ear phone cords, erasers, cavity fillings, just to name a few) has dramatically altered my life. I also have diagnosed allergies to dairy and raw onion, although these are mild on the allergy scale and I can sometimes still eat them without consequences as long it is not an everyday thing.

I’ve talked a lot on my blog about diabetes and celiac disease, and some of the challenges I face having BOTH of these diseases (that do not place nice together). But today I’d like to talk a little about how having severe allergies to things affects my life. It’s going to be a story, in pictures.

Let’s begin with what I am allergic to: (click on any picture to enlarge)

It's 2 pages of allergens that I must look for before buying a product. ANY product.

It's every month going to the special website you've been assigned to go to by your dermatologist and printing off the most current list of products that are SAFE for you to use based on your unique combination of allergies. This list is 111 pages long and is reallly hard to sneak-print at work.

You bring this crazy-big document with you every time you go shopping, and you use tab stickies to organize sections for easier finding of product categories:

Here are some of the products that are safe for me.
Household cleaners- Seventh Generation- these particular ones only, not the entire Seventh Generation line of products. Free and Clear is the only shower gel/soap I am able to use. It doubles as my hand soap, since I am unable to use all hand soaps. This holds true when I leave my house- I must carry a small travel size refillable container of my soap, as I cannot use soaps in public restrooms, at work, or at other people's houses.

Acure lotions, Rusk W8less hairspray, Sebastian hairspray, Mineral Fusion shampoo and conditioner, Acure shampoo and conditioner, Pure Silk shaving cream. Again, these particular scents and formulas only; not all products of one brand are safe.

This is the only safe nail polish I can use. All colors in this Sally Hansen Complete Manicure line are safe.

So what happens if I come in contact with with an allergen? In addition to sometimes having wheezing followed by an asthma attack (I now carry a rescue inhaler in my purse), I always break out all over my body in red, painful bumps that break open, ooze, bleed and itch like there is no tomorrow. They become so painful that even having clothing come in contact with them is painful. I have a cream I put on them to help them heal, but healing still takes several weeks. Things can get a little dicey if I accidently touch a surface that has one of the allergens on it, and then touch my arm or face or something. So I carry antibacterial wipes, Huggies unscented wipes and antibacterial hand gel with me at all times to wipe my hands off after touching communal things (like the fridge or microwave handles at work.

Here is what a recent outbreak looked like. It's a little hard to see in the iPhone pictures taken at work. Here are the ones visible on my neck and chest. Multiply that by your whole body and you get the picture. These pictures were taken before they started breaking open and bleeding.

All of my autoimmune diseases are challenging and life altering, and I do my best to down play each of them as much as possible. Despite it all, I think I still have found a way to lead a pretty nice life, based on a "different" normal than other people. I have been able to meet others in all of my different disease populations.

Sure, when I travel now I have to bring a ton of extra garbage with me. OH WELL. I've got my carry on cooler for my insulin and gluten free food, and my other carry on will be jammed packed full of my 3oz containers of special shampoo, conditioner, face wash, body wash, and lotion.

What's the other alternative- check out of life and be depressed everyday? I tried that before and it wasn't very fun. It took some time to develop confidence and not feel as though I was a burden to everyone around me. As you well know, disease can be very isolating. And that's not to say I don't feel self-conscious sometimes about all the special accommodations I need for food and everything else (like having to ask my work to not use rubber bands on any of my work). My work has been gracious and very kind. But not everyone in every area of my life is always accommodating. I think some people think that avoiding allergens or eating GF due to celiac disease is more a choice than a requirement. But I've learned to work around those situations. I'm a pro now. I'm actually thinking about hosting a dinner party for my friends at my house FOR THE FIRST TIME since being diagnosed with my first disease(2010!!!). Things are easier if they are at my house; I have more control over things and also I don't have to tote around a bunch of extra things. Maybe I'm just getting a little ahead of myself. I'm just going to take things one day at a time.

How I prep food for the week.

2013-06-03T17:34:00.000-07:00

Sunday is always a busy day at Chez Nikki. It's a day that begins with a nice cup of decaf coffee, a nice hearty low carb breakfast, maybe a little exercise or reading, and then it's cooking and prep time for the week. I just don't have time during the week to cook healthy meals. I end up taking short cuts and eating easy processed food because it's handy and ready. This sunday, I did a lot more cooking than normal, because I had some ingredients that needed to be used up or else risk having to toss them. And I HATE throwing out food. It's like taking dollar bills and throwing them right into the garbage. So, I prefer to cook everything up and if needed, freeze it for later use.

You'll see a theme of bell peppers in all of the main dishes, as I had 6 to use up.

I started with a 3 lb log of ground turkey, and make it into two different dishes: chili in the crockpot (2 lbs) and turkey cranberry burgers (1 lb).

Here are the turkey burgers, with mixed in dried cranberries and chopped red pepper. I always weigh my food, as it helps with calorie and carb counting.

It made enough for the whole week plus enough to freeze for later.

With the chili, I was able to use up a ton of fresh tomatoes that were coming to the end of their life, along with a few bell peppers that I was concerned would be too soft to use for dipping in hummus this week. I didn't take a picture because I've made it several times and have previously posted pictures of it. You probably don't want to see weekly chili pictures. :)

Next, I made a quinoa salad, for a nice vegetarian/vegan option during the week. I threw in more bell peppers, green beans, a can of mushrooms and walnuts with a dressing made out of olive oil + fresh lemon juice + salt and pepper.

After making 3 main entrees, I made sides.

First I baked up a few sweet potatoes in the oven. Then I chopped up veggies for dipping in hummus- carrots, celery and radishes. I buy organic, since these are veggies where you essentially eat everything and there is nothing to really peel away. It is one place in your diet you can buy organic and not have it break the bank.

Next, I chopped up a head of cabbage and fried it in a teeny amount of Earth Balance butter with black pepper and apple cider vinegar. It's a great food to eat if you want to feel full without excess calories and carbs. And I really like it!

Not pictured, I cut up salad fixings for the week for easy, throw-together salads for lunch. I highly recommend throwing some walnuts on your salad. They are so nutritious and delicious! I buy the organic walnut pieces from Trader Joe's. I keep them in a Ball jar to keep them fresh after opening.

Lastly, I picked up some organic raspberries, which I love to throw in some lite whip cream for dessert or maybe throw in a smoothie this week. It satisfies my sweet tooth!

This is what my fridge looked like afterwards

I also spent the day cleaning and enjoying the sunshine come through my windows, which as you can see, the dog really enjoyed, too

Hope I've inspired you to do some cooking this week. Whether you are cooking for one, two or five, it will save you money and calories. I hear a lot of single peeps say that they don't like to cook because it goes to waste or is too much work for one person. But I say just freeze it. Also, with home cooking, you will have the benefit of knowing exactly what's in your food and where it came from.

Not going so well...

2013-05-31T18:12:00.001-07:00

I can't lie... I'm not loving MDI. I know it's early, but I cannot get my bg under control. It starts off fine in the morning, until I eat something. And the rest of the day it goes to hell. It's currently sitting at 260, where it's been for a few hours, creeping up. But it hasn't been long enough since my last bolus, because I guess I'm supposed to wait 4 hours between boluses to correct a high (is that really true???). So my bg is in the toilet. And it being that high has prevented me from eating supper tonight, for fear of it going even higher before bedtime. This shit sucks. I give a lot more credit to MDI users... this is harder than it looks!

It's making me feel depressed and anxious. And I've had a nasty bad headache all afternoon/evening from the sustained high bg. Not a good way to start off on MDI. It doesn't make me feel very hopeful. And it's making me feel stupid that I am not able to get control of things.