Tuesday, August 31, 2021

I Do What I Want

 


Picture of Libre trend for blood sugars


My first night of not having any low blood sugars since starting back on an insulin pump (using the Omnipod for the next month for a change of pace).  Waking up to with no eye aches  is such a relief ! Originally I’d thought the low blood sugar was due to left over Levemir from Multiple Dose Injections (MDI) that I’ve been doing since leaving the hospital back in June.   I was there for 3 weeks while after overdosing on insulin ( trying to get my thoughts on paper about this experience to make sense of it all to help anyone who perhaps are dealing with issues especially during this Pandemic).

While in the mental ward,  I was not allowed to take care of my diabetes.   My insulin regime was based on a sliding scale that in reality works perhaps for Type 2 Diabetics ( T2D ) but  sadly the efforts of my CDE who came by to encouraged me to live, her recommendations went mainly unheard due to how the mental ward is considered to not be part of the hospital system (that needs to really change).    Like many had said in my Instagram posts about this being so wrong, at least here in Canada, it's common.. 

Perhaps, my body has changed since then as I had lost 10 lbs during my stay there (and maybe more <lol>). Mainly due to being in the high range of blood sugars which can cause muscles breakdown but it's an unhyealthy way to lose weight). This was due to the food served was so high carbs and it was a “Diabetic Meal”.   The good thing, I’ve gained that weight back since then.   I’m also needing much less insulin  BUT as we all know with Type 1 Diabetes ( T1D ) you just never sometimes what the causes are.  It can be the alignment of the sun/moon/Venus … who knows.

My only problem with the Omnipod, is that the increment of 0.05 for setting your basal rates isn’t the same as other tubed pumps I’ve used (I’m comparing it to my Animas Ping that I probably will be going back to after this since I have ample supplies to keep it running), so it’s a challenge, at least  to this highly insulin sensitive gal that’s writing here, but like anything, it’s a learning curve that makes us better at what we do 24/7 to stay healthy and able to function at our work place / home life.

Also, as we all know, getting your basal rates down pat, before tweaking any other settings in your pump / MDI routine is a must before looking at other settings such as Insulin to Carb ( I:C ), Insulin Sensitivity Factor ( ISF ), etc.  Otherwise, you’ll be frustrated as all heck, and just keep on going around and around in circles.

It’s only Day 4 of being back on the pump, and I have to admit, being on MDI has been a nice break from technology.  The Libre has been an awesome tool for keeping me online, and even though I do miss using the Dexcom G4 that at least has alarms to notify you when you’re going low/high, I do find the Libre an alternative for those of us who have no private / government coverage (and thank you to a few of the T1D’s who have donated some Libre’s to me to use, you know who you are).

I'm alive and back in the land of living.   Be safe. Wear a mask. Get a vaccine.

Cat knocking over a plant


Sunday, May 16, 2021

Ontario Government rejects covering Continuous Glucose Monitor / Flash Glucose Monitor

Two pigeons talking about Slap in the Face



Last Thursday, May 13th, 2021 in the province of Ontario, coverage for ContinuousGlucose Monitors and Flash Glucose Monitor ( CGM / FGM ) for Type 1 Diabetics was sadly defeated.  We diabetics in this province are very fortunate that tax payers of Ontario currently fund our insulin pumps and some of our supplies through the Assistive Devices Program ( ADP ).  I am one of those working stiffs, that pays their taxes diligently to support important programs like this and feel like I've been slapped in the face hard.


32 Nahs / 14 Ayes


For many of us who advocate for the use of CGM / FGM, especially ones that do not have work/private/provincial assistance to purchase this life saving piece of technology this is a pretty hard hit!  Compiling the list of the “Nahs” list and seeing the faces of the Ministers and how they represent us, started to make my blood boil up (stress is not good for anyone, but with diabetes, it can cause blood sugars to rise … and the CGM will show it off with rising arrows and alarms).

If you were 1 of the just over 2,000 people that signed to push this bill through, fantastic!  Many of us reposted the petition asking fellow Canadians to sign, because if this had gone through, other provinces would hopefully follow suit.

John Whitehead stated to the public on his Facebook page that reflects in a nutshell my thoughts - 

    “So yesterday in Ontario, CGM for all was defeated. Who should we be mad at? Of course the current in power government with the voting power to defeat it is one.

    But who else is part of this defeat? You are not going to like this answer. Go to a mirror look at it, if you signed the petition give a high 5, if you didn't sign the answer is staring you in the face.

    Just over 2000 people signed to push this bill. Other organizations or causes get 20,000 signatures in a week.

    If you sat in the government which causes would you focus on? The more noise the more focus and attention given to it.”


OVERALL A BAD DAY FOR ONTARIO


That last statement above in BOLD RED, pretty well sums it up for me as an advocate trying to make living with T1D less complicated for ALL so we can live our lives to the fullest.  To not be a burden on our medical system that even with the current Pandemic, has been flailing with budget cuts to make corporations happy (the joys of a Conservative government ... NOT).  I would love to put those 32 members into our shoes for even 24-48 hours or spend time with us, to see how diabetes affects each one of us differently, even if we do the same thing every day in our workplace / private lives.  Would they perhaps have voted differently? 

Thank you if you’ve taken the time to read this far, are living in Ontario (or even if you’re not), consider sending an email to the MPP’s listed below who had signed Nah (what a horrible word to use for No) … let us be heard.  I know that even though I don’t notice my MPP’s name on the list, I’ll be writing to each and every one of those listed below, so that they hopefully understand how important these devices are and how the initial cost factor to the province/tax payers will reap benefits with having healthy Ontarian’s living in their province.

If you need further information such as snail mail address, etc.  you can find the details easily using the link for the Legislative Office at the following Ontario Legislative website -  


Deepak Anand (Mississauga—Malton) - deepak.anand@pc.ola.org 

Aris Babikian (Scarborough—Agincourt) - aris.babikian@pc.ola.org

Robert Bailey (Sarnia—Lambton) - bob.bailey@pc.ola.org

Hon. Paul Calandra (Markham—Stouffville) - paul.calandra@pc.ola.org

Stan Cho (Willowdale) - stan.cho@pc.ola.org

Lorne Coe (Whitby) - lorne.coe@pc.ola.org

Rudy Cuzzetto (Mississauga—Lakeshore) - rudy.cuzzetto@pc.ola.org

Hon. Doug Downey (Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte) - doug.downey@pc.ola.org

Hon. Jill Dunlop (Simcoe North) - jill.dunlop@pc.ola.org

Hon. Christine Elliott (Newmarket—Aurora) - christine.elliott@pc.ola.org

Goldie Ghamari (Carleton) - goldie.ghamari@pc.ola.org

Mike Harris (Kitchener—Conestoga) - mike.harris@pc.ola.org

Christine Hogarth (Etobicoke—Lakeshore) - christine.hogarth@pc.ola.org

Hon. Sylvia Jones (Dufferin—Caledon) - sylvia.jones@pc.ola.org

Andrea Khanjin (Barrie—Innisfil) - andrea.khanjin@pc.ola.org

Daryl Kramp (Hastings—Lennox and Addington) - daryl.kramp@pc.ola.org

Hon. Stephen Lecce (King—Vaughan) - stephen.lecce@pc.ola.org

Hon. Monte McNaughton (Lambton—Kent—Middlesex) - monte.mcnaughtonco@pc.ola.org

Norman Miller (Parry Sound—Muskoka) -norm.miller@pc.ola.org

Sam Oosterhoff (Niagara West) - sam.oosterhoff@pc.ola.org

Randy Pettapiece (Perth—Wellington) - randy.pettapiece@pc.ola.org

David Piccini (Northumberland—Peterborough South) - david.piccini@pc.ola.org

Jeremy Roberts (Ottawa West—Nepean) - jeremy.roberts@pc.ola.org

Hon. Laurie Scott (Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock) - laurie.scott@pc.ola.org

Donna Skelly (Flamborough—Glanbrook) - donna.skelly@pc.ola.org

Hon. Todd Smith (Bay of Quinte) - todd.smithco@pc.ola.org

Dave Smith (Peterborough—Kawartha) - dave.smith@pc.ola.org

Hon. Kinga Surma (Etobicoke Centre) - kinga.surma@pc.ola.org

Vijay Thanigasalam (Scarborough—Rouge Park) - vijay.thanigasalam@pc.ola.org

Hon. Lisa M. Thompson (Huron—Bruce) - lisa.thompson@pc.ola.org

Hon. Bill Walker (Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound) - bill.walker@pc.ola.org

Hon. John Yakabuski (Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke) - john.yakabuski@pc.ola.org