Personal Quote:
Happiness is waking up in the morning and knowing you have another day with your family and friends.
About Me:
I am a Production Coordinator for dLife. I have worked here for six years.
My co-workers are my extended family.
Being able to help people living with diabetes get the resources and information they need to live a healthy life, is something I am proud to be a part of.
I look forward to meeting you all and hearing your stories.
Personal Goals:
Eat healthier and be more active.
Favorite Music:
Si*Se, Lenny Kravitz, Cyndi Lauper, Foo Fighers, Tiesto, Stevie Wonder, Rubin Blades, Taio Cruz, Rihanna, Deadmau5, David Guetta, A Tribe Called Quest,
Favorite Movies:
Pans Labyrinth, The Secret Garden, Just Go with It, Dodgeball, Lord of the Rings Trilogy, Edward Scissor Hands, Happy Gilmore, The Secret of Nimh, Shrek,
Favorite TV Shows
A Game of Throwns, Lost, NipTuck. Tosh 2.0, Everybody Loves Raymond, American Horror Story, The Walking Dead
d-Life TV also comes on the retired living cable channel on Sat and Sun mornings around 9 am CST (cable station 261) in my area. These shows are re-runs but I enjoy watching them because I always find something that I missed the first time. Also if I a miss a show on Sun afternoon I can catch it later on this channel. Gima
View full commentd-Life TV also comes on the retired living cable channel on Sat and Sun mornings around 9 am CST (cable station 261) in my area. These shows are re-runs but I enjoy watching them because I always find something that I missed the first time. Also if I a miss a show on Sun afternoon I can catch it later on this channel.
Thank you for your comment and so glad that you find deep meaning in dLife. TV can tell stories that make people feel things they may not ordinarily feel or want to feel and that is what we try to do at dLife. I was watching a documentary about when Magic Johnson got AIDS and he said something profound and I believe sincere, "God gave it to me because he knew I was strong enough to help others". And he immediately went to work doing just that.
I agree with Zeneida, Jo. Although I wasn't a primary caregiver for my late father, he also suffered from a number of diabetes-related issues late in life but had his own ideas about diet and exercise. It was pretty frustrating for those who loved him, but I agree with your thoughts on balancing our feelings with those of the person with diabetes. Your mom is lucky you are so involved. I.
View full commentI agree with Zeneida, Jo. Although I wasn't a primary caregiver for my late father, he also suffered from a number of diabetes-related issues late in life but had his own ideas about diet and exercise. It was pretty frustrating for those who loved him, but I agree with your thoughts on balancing our feelings with those of the person with diabetes. Your mom is lucky you are so involved.
Jo, thank you for sharing your thoughts and your emotions. I do feel empathy for you. I was one of the caregivers of my father who had dementia and diabetes. My sister and I had to give permission for the amputation of his leg. That was one of the hardest things I ever had to do in my life but there was no choice. There were really rough times, but you know as I do that we have to take it one day at a time. Wish there was more doctors out there that specialized in geriatric care. I feel so much...
View full commentJo, thank you for sharing your thoughts and your emotions. I do feel empathy for you. I was one of the caregivers of my father who had dementia and diabetes. My sister and I had to give permission for the amputation of his leg. That was one of the hardest things I ever had to do in my life but there was no choice. There were really rough times, but you know as I do that we have to take it one day at a time. Wish there was more doctors out there that specialized in geriatric care. I feel so much for you and I could share things with you as they come up.
I wonder if your mother has seen a very good specialist about her eyes. Retinopathy can be treated. My life companion has had blood bleeding into his eyes at different times and the doctor drained the blood and the fluid in his eyes and lasered the openings and so far it has saved my companions eyesight. I know you are trying to preserve what your mother has. But if there is someone that has expertise available maybe there is something still to be done.
I hope the neuropathy in your mother's hands is not painful and never will be.
It is hard to be a child loving their parent so intensely with so many real life problems and decisions to make. It is all part of love and life. I hope all diabetics will learn something from your blog. What I have seen and experienced has made even more determined to try to ward off complications as long as possible. But for most of us it is a progressive disease. Hang in there and if you ever need to talk to someone who has experienced giving care to a parent with disabilities and diabetes I will be available. I am as close as a message.
Sally
Wow! What an inspirational post. Mind over matter is what I always say and you definitely have proven that. Good luck to you! I know that you will reach your goal.
Lol. Oh, that list can just go on and on... the things that we think about ALL THE TIME. It IS tiring! As I told Erin, it really warms my heart to know you all are doing this experiment. We diabetics understand what a huge effort this is for you all to make... and now you are getting a flavor for what it is like for us. It really touches me to think you would go to such ends to understand. Good luck. And oh... those Arizona Iced Teas... some things we discover we just can't accomodate anymore....
View full commentLol. Oh, that list can just go on and on... the things that we think about ALL THE TIME. It IS tiring! As I told Erin, it really warms my heart to know you all are doing this experiment. We diabetics understand what a huge effort this is for you all to make... and now you are getting a flavor for what it is like for us. It really touches me to think you would go to such ends to understand. Good luck. And oh... those Arizona Iced Teas... some things we discover we just can't accomodate anymore. :-
Great post Monica! There were so many things that I can speak on. 1. Arizona tea -when I was beginning this journey and my insulin pump -I gave myself insulin to cover that can and dropped really low. I learned quickly how liquid carbs may not necessarily stick with the body in terms of insulin (calories different story). 2. I have taken advantage of getting meters for free or via coupons. I have a meter at work, meter at home, meter on me at all times. Yes, I rotate test strips...
1. Arizona tea -when I was beginning this journey and my insulin pump -I gave myself insulin to cover that can and dropped really low. I learned quickly how liquid carbs may not necessarily stick with the body in terms of insulin (calories different story).
2. I have taken advantage of getting meters for free or via coupons. I have a meter at work, meter at home, meter on me at all times. Yes, I rotate test strips just to make sure none get old. -hey, I'm on the expensive one touch. ;)
3.Schedule???? Dinner and anything else lol.
4.Low in the morning? Or any bedtime...keep a juice or glucose tabs on the night stand -something should always be within reach. I've come across a few people that keep mini refrigerators in the bedroom.
5.No insurance makes me cry. I have met people with Diabetes and no insurance, I just can't imagine their lives. I have a flexible spending account that I usually diminish by August and end up with bill collector calls. :( Diabetes is ROUGH. It's been almost 4 years and I still haven't mastered how to manage the financial piece of it because something always comes up.
I know there's more that I could write, but I am kind of rushed. I am really glad that this forum is here -interesting to read and give feedback.
Well said Lynn! I had diabetes for only 3 months when I was pregnant, but that small amount of time gave me an inkling of an understanding of what it must be like to live with diabetes every single day. I have changed my eating habits since my gestational diagnosis in hopes to avoid type 2 in the future. And I still test my blood sugar to make sure it's in normal range from time to time. Glad dLife is doing this.
Lovely numbers, Lynn. I would not even call 108 a "spike"! lol. Those are about as lovely and LEVEL as they get! Chasing the apple with the cheese might have prolonged the blood sugar effect a little (if you really want to try to read something into that. lol). Just a thought. The "translation" part can be the tricky part! You might eat the exact same things tomorrow in exactly the same quantities at exactly the same times, and your blood sugars would be completely different... depending on your...
View full commentLovely numbers, Lynn. I would not even call 108 a "spike"! lol. Those are about as lovely and LEVEL as they get! Chasing the apple with the cheese might have prolonged the blood sugar effect a little (if you really want to try to read something into that. lol). Just a thought. The "translation" part can be the tricky part! You might eat the exact same things tomorrow in exactly the same quantities at exactly the same times, and your blood sugars would be completely different... depending on your stress, your activity level, did you sleep well?, are you menstruating, did you bang your toe walking around in the dark last night, do you feel well, etc. AS for how that apple translates for diabetics... it varies from one individual to another. I personally don't tolerate (in terms of blood sugar effect) fruit too well... but as fruit goes, apples are not nearly as bad as some other fruits. Good luck with your experiment, Lynn. I hope everyone can stick with it for a week!
Hi LC and Jo. Thanks for reading my post and leaving comments! As I've continued to test I've noticed that I seem to run pretty low in general. I don't know if it's because of exercise, or because I was eating too few carbs, or if I tend to test more often when I start to feel low. I wish I had enough test strips to test before and after every single meal this week to get a more accurate picture, but this has definitely been an interesting (and eye-opening!) experiment.
Hi Jo, Erin, LC, Interesting experiment here... I think it important to remember that 68 or 70 mg/dl is not "low" blood glucose. Experts believe that a normal blood glucose reading w/o any insulin resistance is about 70, so I wouldn't get too concerned about readings in this range, in fact I'd be delighted. Erin, your comment about the need for treatment below 70 is correct only if you are taking oral meds (especially the sulfonylureas) or insulin. W/o drug interference, we all...
I think it important to remember that 68 or 70 mg/dl is not "low" blood glucose. Experts believe that a normal blood glucose reading w/o any insulin resistance is about 70, so I wouldn't get too concerned about readings in this range, in fact I'd be delighted.
Erin, your comment about the need for treatment below 70 is correct only if you are taking oral meds (especially the sulfonylureas) or insulin. W/o drug interference, we all have remarkable blood glucose regulating mechanisms that work to keep our blood glucose from dropping too low. This is something our bodies are designed to do from day one, but since most of us continuously bombard our systems with so much dietary carbohydrates, the hormone that works to pull our readings up (glucagon) gets a bit rusty. So, be patient with your new lower carb diet. Give your body a chance to get used to this new, lower-carb "normal" and you will find many, many benefits to this new low-carb diet.
I made weight watchers cupcakes myself this weekend. I'm not a cook, it was just the pound cake mix and diet 7 up. Easy :) How the children enjoyed their treat!
View full commentI made weight watchers cupcakes myself this weekend. I'm not a cook, it was just the pound cake mix and diet 7 up. Easy :)
Hi Sally. I replied to Virginia's post and will send her some dLifeTV shows once I have her address. I can empathize with you. There are so many people who do not have the proper resources to manage their diabetes. I feel some comfort in knowing that dLife.com and dLifeTV are getting folks some valuable information that may help them. Thanks for your post! Zen
View full commentHi Sally. I replied to Virginia's post and will send her some dLifeTV shows once I have her address. I can empathize with you. There are so many people who do not have the proper resources to manage their diabetes. I feel some comfort in knowing that dLife.com and dLifeTV are getting folks some valuable information that may help them.
I replied also but I can't find the post anymore. My suggestion was support groups where she could talk things out without having the stress of reading. I"m a hands on person and with my Support group experience it's just more talking than anything and you learn a lot.
I did see the moments on youtube. Thank you. I was curious and did a search on him on Yahoo and found out that he has done much more acting than I knew about. I am impressed. I didn't know the tip of the ice berg about his career. I think that I will always admire the work he does for dLife. It is really meaningful. Sally
View full commentI did see the moments on youtube. Thank you. I was curious and did a search on him on Yahoo and found out that he has done much more acting than I knew about. I am impressed. I didn't know the tip of the ice berg about his career. I think that I will always admire the work he does for dLife. It is really meaningful.
LC is correct. Tags are search terms. So if you are talking about metformin in your post, you might want to add that tag so people who are interested in that drug can find your post. I do want to clarify that the tags are only relevant in our dLife community and will not be used in other search tools outside the dLife website. But a tag can be any word that helps others find your blog post. I hope that helps.
LC thank you so much for your comments to my recent post (which by the way isn't in regards to copperhairpin's blog post. LC just being reminded that we belong to God and HE LOVES us BIG TIME/ALL-THE-TIME is especially encouraging after all our calculations don't result in "Normal NONdiabetes" tests. Keep at it girl, HIS plans for you are still good, not to harm you but give you a hope AND A FUTURE with HIM:) PS: HE is the perfect husband:)
WOW Kathy, funny Jeremiah 29:11 is what I see every morning. :) It's posted in my bathroom in two places. Funny thing, at my last Diabetes seminar the speaker mentioned the word 'normal' and reminded us that we are normal, we just some time have blood sugars that non diabetics don't get. :)
I have to say I loved your blog. It was fun and interesting and I appreciate the personal side you allowed us to learn. I am smiling. Those sort of reports would have drove me nuts when I was younger and I would second guess myself asking if I was a nagger. I am like you and I think that if a relationship is easier to break about nagging than infidelity there really is a serious issue in the background. Guess some men would forgive infidelity because it would be something they would like...
View full commentI have to say I loved your blog. It was fun and interesting and I appreciate the personal side you allowed us to learn. I am smiling. Those sort of reports would have drove me nuts when I was younger and I would second guess myself asking if I was a nagger.
I am like you and I think that if a relationship is easier to break about nagging than infidelity there really is a serious issue in the background. Guess some men would forgive infidelity because it would be something they would like lightly forgiven if THEY did it.
I am not sure what constitutes nagging. There are things that I have to do. I have to learn to remind my mate to take his morning meds or he will forget. That is a given. He has to remind me when he can to take my meds at 7:30 pm or I will forget. We lean on each other. I think children are prone to do that and I think your husband is wonderful by the way. He is a listener for sure.
You sound like you are an excellent wife and mother and I suspect very strongly that you are an excellent employee.
lol! Thank you, Sally, for your generous comment. I learned years ago just how much my husband does listen when we were dating and he would say things out of the blue or do things based on something I had said so long before that. I had to think how he knew and eventually it dawned on me that while he is short on words, he DOES hear every word I say - even if he doesn't always act like it. Of course this is also proof that he is as big a kid as the two we have, but that's another discussion....
View full commentlol! Thank you, Sally, for your generous comment. I learned years ago just how much my husband does listen when we were dating and he would say things out of the blue or do things based on something I had said so long before that. I had to think how he knew and eventually it dawned on me that while he is short on words, he DOES hear every word I say - even if he doesn't always act like it. Of course this is also proof that he is as big a kid as the two we have, but that's another discussion. ;-)
Ilene, it's ok. I promise never to ask you about that chocolate cake you're eating, except to ask if I can have a piece too.
Zen and Lynn, I honestly would not have called it love without some long hard thought about it. Thank you for reminding me that's what it is...so I can keep on doing it freely!
I also wonder if they would have said anything had she been a SKINNY cook.... If Anthony Bourdain announced tomorrow that he had diabetes...would they be pointing to the fat, and sugar, and carbs in HIS meals. No, because a. he has a cooking degree, and b. he is thin..... (I choose him, because he is Ms. Dean's biggest and most vocal critic) Thank you Lynn for your thoughts.
View full commentI also wonder if they would have said anything had she been a SKINNY cook....
If Anthony Bourdain announced tomorrow that he had diabetes...would they be pointing to the fat, and sugar, and carbs in HIS meals. No, because a. he has a cooking degree, and b. he is thin..... (I choose him, because he is Ms. Dean's biggest and most vocal critic)
Good article. A stick of butter will not give you diabetes but the fat from the butter will go to the midsection of the body where it builds a thicker fat wall and starts to pressure on your kidneys, liver and pancreas where the pancreas start to slowdown the insulin production or start to block/absorb the insulin naturally produced in the pancreas where type-2 starts to happen. So event hough the stick of butter may not give diabetes right away but it will start having affect on your organs,...
View full commentGood article. A stick of butter will not give you diabetes but the fat from the butter will go to the midsection of the body where it builds a thicker fat wall and starts to pressure on your kidneys, liver and pancreas where the pancreas start to slowdown the insulin production or start to block/absorb the insulin naturally produced in the pancreas where type-2 starts to happen. So event hough the stick of butter may not give diabetes right away but it will start having affect on your organs, and also a major factor of CVDs. I wish they would cover this more on media just talking about stick of butter. ITA agree about refined carbs, as they are high GI foods which elevate the BG and start to put strain on your insulin production. Hopefully Deen has a good Endocrinologist who can guide her and teach the ABC123s of Diabetes so she can modify her lifestyle and be a good example to her fans.
I remember having gestational diabetes and having the fantasy of having a big chocolate cake in front of me, but I knew if I wanted to have a healthy baby I needed to stick to a healthy diet. I slipped of course, but we are only human and we do the best we can.
Sorry to hear about your eye. Styes are the worse. I had one that I thought would never go away, but it did so hang in there. Also, good luck with your job. Your attitude towards the new challenges it will bring will make all the difference. Looking forward to reading about your new opportunity. Keep us posted!
I still am confused about things. A post I tried to send to Furball ended up under your comments. *embarrassed*. I thought the title of the blog that you tried to send is fascinating. I hope you will try again to express your thoughts that you intended. I am so curious and I do wonder what honesty diabetics could share.
Hi ladies. Your comments have been heard. And I will of course pass them to our tech team. I know from my own experience how frustrating posting can be. One thing that has helped me with my login issue was clearing my cookies and cache. We have some changes in place to hopefully correct these issues for good. They are currently in testing mode. Thanks for letting us know! Zen Community Moderator
View full commentHi ladies. Your comments have been heard. And I will of course pass them to our tech team. I know from my own experience how frustrating posting can be. One thing that has helped me with my login issue was clearing my cookies and cache. We have some changes in place to hopefully correct these issues for good. They are currently in testing mode. Thanks for letting us know!
Thank you Zeneida and secondchances for your thoughts and encouragement. I'm glad you have enjoyed the photos i've shared. I'm sure you have some wonderful photos too. We now have about 17 inches with more on the way. Have a good night's sleep and we'll check-in in the morning:)
Beautiful pictures and I'm not a fan of snow. I'm here in the midwest and my issue is ice. I just don't like driving on it -I drive an SUV, but the way I see it...the bigger the vehicle, the bigger the magnitude of the slide. :) The downside of living in a hilly area.
Oh and Zen, I need to try that yoga part too! I'll do that and let you know, but I think you'll be able to tell. If I'm sore all over, you'll know why. ;-)
LOL, I am not a fan of water either -I can't swim. But I love dance and music and the water is so easy on the joints...so I just flow with it. If you ever get a chance to give it a try, go for it...you might be pleasantly surprised.
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Gima
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