Pain at the Endrocinologist Office.

Endocrinologists have a tough job.

They work with a variety of Diabetics, all with different types of diabetes, all with different preferences of management - Pills, Injections (Pens, Syringes), Exercise, Insulin (Humalog, Novalog, Apidra, Lantus..etc.), Insulin Pumps (Animas, Tandem, Medtronic, Asante, etc.), Blood Sugar Meters (etc. etc. etc.) Not counting insurance companies, non-compliant patients, over enthusiastic patients, parents of patients, and every other type of patient in between.

That is a lot of factors and variables to keep track of, while also making decisions that basically control a persons life, and even closeness of death.

I had a great Endocrinologist. You can see the word and emphasis on HAD.

In May (ish) of 2014, I received a letter from my Pediatric Endocrinologist office, saying that my endo, the one I had had for years, was no longer going to be working at the office, and that the office, would soon be closed entirely. Forcing each of it's patients to find a new endocrinologist office.

They supplied a list of Pediatric offices currently accepting new patients to call and go to, and then we were supposed to tell the old office so they could send records over. Doesn't seem like much of a problem. However, did you see I mentioned Pediatric office? I was 22 years old. I was not going to accepted into another Pediatric office. I was given no leads on what I was supposed to do. After making multiple calls to my old office, they finally gave my mom and myself two names for adult endocrinologists.

So I called the nearest one, to schedule an appointment, and the soonest they could get me in was October. I was angry. I would be going 6 months without an Endocrinologist visit, when I used to have them every 3 months.

So while all the other pediatric diabetics were just getting a new Endo in a Pediatric office, which would follow similar procedures as the one I came from. I was to be getting a new Endo, in an adult office.

I was nervous.
I was scared.

I had read online of multiple people who had horrible experiences when transitioning to new Endos, and even adult care. The trend was that adult Endocrinologists did not take the time as much as Pediatric ones to make sure everything is going okay. Not only was the Endo different, but the office was geared to type 2 diabetics, and no longer was there a nutritionalists, social worker, and multiple nurses to talk to at every appointment.

I was also worried that my new Endocrinologist wouldn't respect me as a Diabetic, and as a person who is very informed about the Diabetic Community. I was also worried about her not understanding my need for staying on injections verses a pump. The only thing that calmed my mind a tad, was that my mother remembered her name as an Endocrinologist who came to the hospital when my brother was diagnosed.


My first appointment arrived. I saw a nurse, and my new Endo and that was it. A big change right there. There was also a sign in the office telling patients to not clip their toenails in the office...1. Yuck. 2. I miss the crayon drawings that used to be on the walls of my old office. My mother went with me, because I wasn't ready to face it alone.

I ended up liking my new Doctor, although she does have a somewhat difficult accent. But I surprised her with my wealth of Diabetes Knowledge....and my last worry- the Insulin Pump. I ended up walking out of the office after putting an order in for a Tslim Insulin Pump. So I guess she semi-talked me into that option...although I think my mind was actually made up to give it a shot before I even entered her office. I was finally ready.

I have now been to the office two times, and have another appointment coming up in April. I am happy with my pump, and the people of the office.

So thankfully I wont have to change endocrinologists anytime soon again! Once was enough for me!

Continuous Glucose Monitor

Imagine the following is possible...
A little tiny sensor device is inserted under the skin. It then transmits to another device. Portraying a graph with a dot for every blood sugar reading taken every five minutes. Not only is it portrayal of current blood sugars, it lets you know if your following a trend, going up or down. Not only that, but it will beep and warn you if you are going low and high.

Sounds to good to be true right?

WRONG.

I'm talking about a continuous glucose monitor, or CGM for short. This device has been on the market through two major companies, for years. At one point in my life, I had talked to my doctor about getting one of these, but the misconception was and still is, that this device is only for people who are unable to tell when they are going low, and even for uncontrolled type 1 diabetic students living away from parents or alone (such as at college). So that was the end of the conversation about this life changing device.

Well, when I received my Insulin pump in November, in the package, although I never talked to my doctor about it, was the Dexcom G4 CGM. I was very surprised to see that with my shipment, but excited none-the-less. Since being more attuned to the diabetes circuit I had seen the growing use of the CGM device, and was excited to start it up as well.

I started my CGM and my insulin pump on the same day. So I have no comparison of what my blood sugars were like 24/7 before I had the pump.

Now I am on information OVERLOAD!

My first day using my Insulin Pump and CGM (receiver pictured). 

The top is the Dexcom Sensor Site. 

My CGM receiver.  Using a graph of my blood sugars. Not too bad!

My second day using my CGM and pump. I was a perfect 100 (and going down)

It was days like this that I was thankful for having my CGM. 

And Nights like this that look so awesome to see!

Glucose Meter and CGM represent!!! 

If I didn't have this awesome device, I would never see what my blood sugars would do at night!

Some days look like a Roller Coaster. 

Some days are perfect. 

Good thing my Dexcom was there to warn me of those lows!

A Comparison of Blood sugars between my devices. 

I was so Low, that my CGM only registered low. 

A roller coaster for sure. 

Sometimes the sites look bad afterwards..bruised, and irritated. 

Red site, mixed with a little peeling of the adhesive. 

The amazing capabilities of technology. 

I cannot imagine life without the CGM. His name is Dex for short. I am thankful for the moment that I have such great insurance that helps covers the cost of supplies to keep Dex running. Although, the new year is having me apply everything towards my deductible. One month of sensors for Mr. Dex cost me over $300.... ouch. It costs to live..literally!

#SWD2014 part 2

So the rest of my Students With Diabetes Conference Experience was right up there with top diabetes experiences I've ever had. 

(Diabetics were everywhere!)

On Saturday I made sure to get some exercise in with Zumba! This conference reminded me that I need to get back into taking care of other aspects of my health, not just diabetes. I need to get out and move more!  (More on that later!) 

(Gotta use those awesome Level products for those lows!)

The day started out with a few sessions which reminded me that we have been given this disease, and it's how we choose to see it that matters. So we can laugh or not, choose to take a vacation from it, ignore it, or embrace it! Diabetes is a part of me, it is engrained into my system. It is a part of me that makes me different, unique, and gives me motivation for life. 

(The bionic pancreas!) 

Someday though, a cure may be upon us, and as we heard...the bionic pancreas might be released to the public in 39months! We saw the technology, heard first hand how how it changed peoples lives for 5 days, and in ready to embrace this new technology. I might have a semi-positive diabetes outlook most of te time, but that doesn't mean I wouldn't jump upon the chance to use this new technology as soon as I can. Everyone goes through the diabetes burnout, myself totally included. 

(A1C was 7.2!) 

The day ended with some Chinese food, Chinese food insulin dosage guessing, a walk on the beach, and lastly a luau by the pool.! 

(After Chinese food at P.F Changs!)

(On the beach with some of this years upcoming JDRF interns in NYC!)

(Loving the beach weather!)

(At the luau with The beautiful and inspiring Nicole Johnson!) 

(With Nicole Johnson before we say goodbye!) 

(Paige and I!)

(The most awesome quidditch player ever Jeremy!) 

(These girls are going to rock it in NYC this summer! I wish them all the luck with JDRF! Jenni, Me, Amy, and Hannah!)

(Chilling on the beach!)

(Jenni and I!)

(Luau party!)

Whenever I feel down because of my diabetes, I have to remember that I am not alone.