's blog

Mail Order Madness

Rebecca Abma — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 12:51:21 +0000

It sounded like the ideal situation. One phone call and all my diabeetus testing supplies and medicine would be delivered straight to my door. No last minute trips the the pharmacy. No paying out of pocket to be reimbursed later. Everything would be taken care of with one quick phone call.

I fell for it in September. Like most relationships, it started out nicely. Three or four "quick" phone calls and they promptly delivered a three month supply of test strips and an equal number of lancets. And for a girl who only changes her lancets when we change the clocks (and only if I remember to that week), I now have a 600 year supply of lancets in my closet.

At the time, they were also supposed to send a three month supply of insulin. It still has not arrived. Five or six phone calls later, they tell me they are still waiting on my doctor to return their call.

Dreaming of Diabetes

Rebecca Abma — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 13:43:10 +0000

My mind makes up for the often boring and brain-numbing life of a stay at home mom with a really cool dream life. By day, I'm dancing around the living room singing Laurie Berkner songs and smacking my backside to cheer my little boy up, but by night, I'm traveling the world, eating exotic foods and bumping into people I haven't seen in 20 years. Needless to say, I'm pretty hooked on that eight-hours a night.

In my dreams, I'm not sniffing out a poopy diaper, sorting laundry or strolling the aisles of the supermarket, humming along to the music. In my dreams, I'm not dealing with diabetes, either. Or rather, I wasn't, until last night.

Superstitious

Rebecca Abma — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 16:43:29 +0000

The other day, Michelle posted about censoring her blog to not upset her mother sometimes. I realize I do this too, but not for the same reason. I tend to censor my writing out of superstition. I'm like one of those people who mouth the word cancer. When things are going good for me, I know if I blog about it, things will quickly turn around.

Last week, I chose to not look over my shoulder (or toss salt over it) and jump up and down with glee over my new pump. I was so excited about it, and how much easier it made my diabetes control.

I should know better than to speak up when things are going good. I should have whispered instead. I even knocked wood to fend off the fates, but I guess they heard me over all that banging.

User Error

Rebecca Abma — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 11:17:53 +0000

I guess I spoke too soon a few days ago when I declared my love of pumping, claiming it was so simple and my blood sugars were perfect.

While the machinery (and all the cool things it does) is still quite awesome, I forgot about good old human errors. Just a few hours after I posted about loving pumping, my blood sugar was high. Not terrible, 180, but still higher than my two hour goal of 120. I figured it was the meal--pepperoni bread made with whole wheat dough, which is essentially pizza--so I corrected and went along my business for the afternoon.

Tethered, But Not Bound

Rebecca Abma — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 16:00:55 +0000

A week into insulin pumping, I have to report that I absolutely love it. Love it, love it, love it. All of my worries and fears about it have completely been erased.

My blood sugar has never been better. I feel so much more stable and in control. And because I'm not dealing with the constant fluctuations, I'm not starving-hungry all the time.

I worried I'd have lots of lows, and knock wood, I haven't gone under 70 yet. I was also concerned about having a pump on me at all time. I thought the tubing would be annoying or the constant reminder of the pump would make it hard for me to sleep. I haven't experienced either.

A Constant Reminder?

Rebecca Abma — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 23:57:03 +0000

I hate to admit this, but I'll risk being unpopular and just say how I feel. I'm getting pretty sick of the Jonas brothers. It's like they are everywhere. In my Us Weekly, in Parenting magazine, on the Target commercials and now here on dLife.

I'm not sure exactly why I find them so annoying. It could be that we're from the same community. One of them went to my husband's alma mater, and my husband's cousins went to church where their dad was a pastor. I've been to the church too, and saw their dad preach and sing there (quite moving, I might add) long before they became famous.

I Deserved That

Rebecca Abma — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 23:40:49 +0000

When it comes to high blood sugar, I tend to think there are two different types. Those unfair, random ones that leave you guessing what happened. And the other ones, the ones you deserve.

Last night, I had a high that I deserved. Without a doubt, I deserved it.

In preparation for the next pregnancy (the thought of which leaves me in alternating states of excitement and sheer panic), my blood sugar goals are tight: 80 to 120. Pretty sure I'm not pregnant yet, I won't freak out if I'm 130 or 140 or even 150. But when I hit 200 last night, I knew I had to correct it.

Pumped Up!

Rebecca Abma — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 20:05:06 +0000

I am shocked at how quickly it happened. The first Friday in August, I met with a new endo. A week later my pump arrived. No hassles. No paperwork. No out-of-pocket costs. Bing, bang, boom...it was on my door step.

Last week, I met with the diabetes educator who trained me with saline. And as of 12:14 this afternoon, I'm pumping with insulin. I'm excited. I'm nervous. I'm giddy. I'm overwhelmed.

I picked the Minimed Paradigm 722, because I'm familiar with it (my friend Lizzy has one) and because I want the CGM to go with it. Currently, my insurance company is not covering CGM, but my diabetes educator is confident that I can get it approved once I am actually pregnant. I'm tempted to buy one out of pocket and try to get it approved later, but I'm not sure I can swing it if it's not approved. I was considering buying a used one, but frankly, I have no idea where to find one.

What a Difference

Rebecca Abma — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 20:48:49 +0000

I met with a new endocrinologist last week. I decided as part of my pre-pregnancy planning to find a new diabetes care team. The maternal fetal medicine specialist I dealt with last pregnancy, who is also a diabetic, recommend this office. They aren't on my insurance plan, but we have a POS, so I can see whomever I want and get reimbursed 70 percent.

My old endo and I had a falling out earlier this year. I had problems with him throughout our year and a half long relationship and decided I needed to cut ties. I cannot believe what a difference a new office makes.

Never say never

Rebecca Abma — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 20:39:08 +0000

I'm not sure I'm ready to admit to this. In the real world, I haven't told any more than a few very close girl friends. And if my mother asks, I will certainly deny it. I'm fairly confident that she doesn't read my blog, and the admission I'm about to make is central to my diabetes life, so I might as well come out with it.

My husband and I are talking about having another kid. I know I was the most miserable pregnant woman in the world and I swore never, never again. But it is a woman's perogotive to change her mind, isn't it?

When we first started talking about trying for #2, I thought we were going to wait a year. Give me the opportunity to shed the rest of the baby weight and have a year to enjoy being a threesome. But my husband suggested we aren't getting any younger, and wouldn't it be nice to have two close in age. So, we've agreed to start trying this fall.