Getting better

So since my last post things have been getting better slowly but surely. While my average for the last 14 days isn't stellar (high 100's) I have tested an average of 3 times a day up from...well...less than that. On the eating front things are going well, more fiber and protien, less fat. I realized that I walk 7 miles on Tuesdays, 5 on Wednesdays and 5 on Fridays just by going to and from work (and half of those are straight up hill)!!! Last week I went to the gym twice and this week I have gone Sunday, Monday and today! I feel good. No real changes in my perception of my weight though, and I ahve decided to not look at numbers, go by feel of clothes instead. No need to get obsessed (it's happened before and got me nowhere). So that's where I stand. My basals and carb ratios have gone down and I am feeling a little more energetic. Procrastination could be the death of me adn I thank God that this is pretty much my last year of traditional college classes! Woo-frickin-hoo!!!!! Thanks for the support and kind words!

Seven

Everyone else has done this so I might as well do it too! None of the following are in any order.

7 Things to Do Before I Die:

1. Fall in love
2. Have kids
3. Own a house
4. Be a foster parent
5. Share my biggest secret with my mother (I guess that's something to do before she dies)
6. Travel to South Africa
7. Run a marathon

7 Things I Can't Do:

1. Dribble a basketball between my legs
2. Watch movies where animals get hurt
3. Eat lamb
4. Dance
5. Play volleyball
6. Not watch the news everyday
7. Stay organized

7 Things I Find Attractive In Others:

1. Honesty
2. Sense of humor
3. A great smile
4. Committment to life long learning
5. Strong convictions but open minded
6. MUST BE AN ACTIVE LISTENER!!!!!
7. Like to cuddle

7 Things I Have been Known to Say:

1. Clearly
2. Grrrrrr...
3. You funny bunny (I babysit A LOT!)
4. No prob Bob
5. STOP! (Insert child's name) that is unsafe!!!
6. I can't believe I just said that.
7. Yeah...about that.

7 Books I've Read and Recommend to Others:

1. Blindness
2. Bridge to Terabithia
3. I'll Love You Forever
4. All of the Harry Potters
5. The Curious Incident of the Dog In the Night-Time
6. Jacob Have I Loved
7. Invisisble Man

7 Favorite Movies/T. V. Shows:

1. Crash
2. Grey's Anatomy
3. All Law and Orders
4. The Pursuit of Happyness
5. A League of Their Own
6. 30 Rock
7. Mean Girls

Chunky

I joined a group for fatties. I can say that. I am one. These two doctors from one of the 8 million hospitals in a one-mile radius wanted to help young women struggling to control their weight. What better place to fulfill this goal than to go to the nearby all women's college. So here I am, one of a group of 7 students involved in the battle of the bulge meeting in a tiny room with "healthy snacks" once a week. Ugh...

The first meeting, we all went around and shared our goals for the 11 week group where knowledge of food and activity is imparted upon us. My roommate and I were the only ones who did not claim to go to the gym for a full hour everyday! I mean, if you are really going to the gym everyday, 7 hours a week, why are you in need of a weight loss group? Either your lying, have a terrible metabolic issue, or eat like total SHIT! But apparently they also eat relatively well, so I don't know but I felt like a loser. I have gone to the gym maybe three times since December. But it's about me right? Not them. I am in this group to benefit from the knowledge of the professionals and the apparent support from the other women. I am trying to be positive, and focus on me. Focus on my health and not the numbers, etc... And what goes along with health? Testing, and taking insulin at the appropriate time, and so on and so forth.

Because I can keep myself in relatively ok control without testing consistently it's easy to let myself get out of the routine of testing. I can keep a low 7 A1c and I know that doesn't mean it's ok but when there is so much to do and I don't feel unhealthy, well. It’s just hard to keep up with it. So part of my goal for my 11 week super health tune up is to keep up and perhaps double or triple my efforts to test regularly. It's important. I don't want to go blind, or lose a foot, or live a shorter life, heck, I don't even want to feel more tired, or any of the other issues, big or small, that go along with uncontrolled diabetes, or bad health in general.

So along with work outs, healthy eating, food logs and a sunny disposition I will be recording blood sugars, boluses, etc, etc. I know, every time I post (which is like, never) I talk about the efforts I am going make to pull my diabetes into the control that the rest of my life finally seems to be in. I have to say that everything I have written about trying to get in gear has been true. I have meant every word. But sometimes it takes a few (several) tries to get it right. So here I go again! Wish me luck.

Being irresponsible or bad luck?? and Furry friends.

So I have been doing much better with my diabetes routine the last 2 or 3 days and I am already enjoying the feeling of accomplishment. But there was a slight bump in the road Friday. I went to Amherst with my Mom to help Joey, my bro, move into a new apartment. I am always very careful to test when I am with Joe because it prompts him to do so. I know that he is not testing for weeks, yes weeks, at a time and not always taking his insulin. Well, I got to Amherst and at lunch time I realized I had not strips. Grrrr... Why hadn't I realized I was perilously low on strips before I left the house. I mean I tested before I started driving. Ugh... Well, no problem really, I can use Joey's meter. Uh, no I guess I can't since he has stopped even carrying it with him. I was able to use his before dinner (I reminded him to bring it along) and under bolused a little to make sure I didn't go low on the drive home. Once I got home I was able to test and I wasn't too high, 190. And so I have kept up with testing the last day and a half..it's a start.

I think I will post about Joe and my fears for him soon (I am so afraid for him), but I am not up to it right now, I'm still indulging in vacation laziness which will end in count 'em, 2 days. Happy weekend.

Ooooh, oooh, one more thing. I have decided to follow in the footsteps of many of you and begin a weekly posting about my favorite furry friends: my feline children/nephew. So without further ado, I would like to introduce you to the most important men in my life:
This is Eeyore, better known as PeePee (No recollection of how that got started). He is 8 years old and I got him from my friend Claire for my 16th birthday. He is still a little kitten at heart and loves to give stinky kisses. He has a benign heat murmur.



This is Casey. He was rescued from the Animal Rescue League. The previous owners wrote on his comment card that he was naughty, irritating, and noisy. I fell in love with him the second I met him. He is noisy...oh God is he noisy. But he is funny and loving and sweet. He is 4 years old and was the best Christmas present EVER!!! Oh, and he LOVES to lick plastic bags, sometimes he gets a little too into them.


This is Velcro. He is my nephew. We got him for Joey a month after I got PeePee. Mom and I were walking home from CVS and saw a cat in a van. My mom said she thought he might be real. The window was open and a woman stuck her head out and said "Yes he is real, would you like him!!!" In a moment of weakness, (or was it strength?) Mom said ok. the rest is history. He is 8 years old and just moved to Amherst with Joey 2 days ago. PeePee, mom and I miss him very much. Joey is beside himself with joy and velcro is settlling in. Oh and the cutest thing about Velc, he always wants to sleep on your chest and he ever so gently claws your face. You can tell he is being loving but gosh it hurts.

four, quatro, quatre, vier

So I have noticed that others have done this meme and I felt like doing it too...

4 Jobs I've Had in My Life...
1. Tutor/Child Care provider for children with autism
2. Administrative assistant in the Office of Residence Life at Simmons
3. Student Program Director-Program for Medical and Life Sciences housing
4. EMT

4 Movies I Could Watch Over and Over...
1. Mean Girls
2. Shawshank Redemption
3. Crash
4. Hotel Rwanda

4 Places I've lived...
1. Somerville, MA
2. Cambridge, MA
3. Burlington, VT
4. Boston, MA

4 TV Shows I Love to Watch...
1. Law and Order SVU
2. Without a Trace
3. Cold Case
4.A Baby Story

4 Places I've Been on Vacation...
1. 38 out of 50 states
2. Italy (for school)
3. Mexico (worked at an orphanage)
4. Quebec

4 Websites I Visit Daily...
1. Six Until Me (also keeps me up to date on other blogs)
2. CNN.com
3. Facebook (blush)
4. Sittercity.com

4 of My Favorite Foods...
1. Cheese
2. Anything made of cheese
3. Cottage cheese
4. Indian food

4 Places I'd Rather be Right Now...
1. Mexico
2. Italy
3. With my brother
4. Cuddling with my kitties



No tags but of course I would love to read your answers if you were moved to answer them.

Godbless the creators of diabetes related clothing...

Is it tacky to wear a diabetes related t-shirt, sweatshirt, thong (yes, thong) at 24???? Well, I mean, i hope 10 year olds aren't wearing thongs...but I digress). Thanks to one of you lovely bloggers out there I discovered the wealth of diabetes related apparel at cafepress.com. I will now share with you my favorites:
1. Wilfred Brimley...first off he's obivously HOTTTT!!!! Second, he has spent many years reminding us that if we are on Medicare we may be able to get our diabetus testing supplies at no cost and delivered right to our doors.

Cool or scary? You be the judge:

2.I know many of you have seen this one but it bears further advertising, my bro wants this one:

3. A truer statement was never made:


Now my least favorite one (I would love other people's opinions):


Overall, I find all of these quite humorous. There is a shirt/sweatshirt/thong/bag for everyone, even your diabetic cat/dog.

Forgive me D-Bloggers, it has been two months since my last post...

Wow, it's odd to look at my own blog and realize that I have not contributed to our ever growing community in two months. The thing is, I am reading all of your blogs checking for new entries several times a day. I guess I have been in more of an intake mode than an output one. Things in my world have been pretty good. Finals are older and the holidays at Mom's house were fantastic. Dad's house, awful, but I was expecting it so i made the best of it, he's my Dad, I love him no matter what.

It's funny, the majority of my life is going really well. I am loving school, my friends, work, and being in my mid-20's. And if I forget about having diabetes EVERYTHING seems to be great or on its way to being great. The thing is, I do have diabetes and my decision to pretend that i don't is going to be a problem soon. I have days where I test once, a few where I didn't test. I get nervous and so I test 5 or 6 times for a day or two nad then fall back into the unhealthy patterns. I am putting off going to the endo because I am not wanting to a)have ehr see my bgs, and 2) do NOT want to get weighed, I have def put on some extra pounds. This is a bad and potentially dangerous habit to get into. I know that Dr. R (endo) would only be supportive. This has proven to be true multiple times over the last 12 years. In fact, she has stuck by me through much worse. In fact, I probably should go see her, it may up my chances of getting my shit together.

I know people wonder how a child of a man who went blind from diabetes at age 25 could ever let her diabetes get out of control. Obviously I know what could happen. Well, to those people I say, "I'm human and for the last 20 years I have spent the majority of my life exercising excellent control over my diabetes. Even the best of us struggle. It's normal." And I believe that. But I also believe that it needs to change. i need to test and exercise and I'll have to stop using my busy life as an excuse for "occationally" letting things slip. So, first, testing 4 times a day. A reasonable and attainable goal. Second, working out. I hate is, the gym is boring, but I really do feel better once I get into a routine. Maybe I can rope some friends into coming with me. Also, I will NOT compare myself to the other ladies in the gym. No use, it only makes me feel awful and it's silly. Third, while I have been eating better, i will continue to do so.

So there you go, my current diabetes life in a nut shell. It's a little out of control but I am feeling hopeful. I'll keep things up to date as best I can and I am making a resolution to lurk less and comment more. So thank you all for contributions to my D-life, you may not know it but you all are some of my greatest supports.

Historic day in MA

I am proud to say that Massachusetts has elected it's first African-American governor, Deval Patrick. Patrick is also only the second Afro-American governor in the history of the US!!!! Rock on Massachusetts!!! Next, protect same sex marriage!!!

Your it!

It occured to me afew minutes ago that I probably need to tag other people (5 is it)? Well, I don't really know 5 of you wonderful d-bloggers so, if you read this and haven't been tagged I hereby tag you.

Five

Yay, my first time being tagged!!! Thanks Kassie!

Ok 5 relatively unkonw things about me:
1. I was the Massachusetts State Champion in Tae Kwon Do when I was 12 for the 12-14 year old age group. That summer I went to the Junior Olympics where I came in (gulp) 4th. I got my black belt the next summer.

2. I am dying to go back to CBC for many reasons but one nagging reason is that I went for 11 summers but couldn't be a double Bartonian because I was still a camper my last year.

3. I have a very hard time being organized. I mean it's really bad. When I am stressed I can't see my floor and there are almost always Diet Coke bottles in various stages of emptiness all over. I try to make the distinction between being messy and being dirty, but honestly, sometimes, things get kind of dirty.

4. I only did 2 years of formal high school, graduated a year early, and now, I am graduating from college 3 years late. Lesson learned: Nothing goes according to plan and it isn't worth fighting it..work with what you've got and keep going, even when it feels futile.

5. I am obsessed with Tina Fey (from SNL). I mean, stalker obsessed. In fact I am obsessed with a disturbingly large number of actors/acresses. Like Maura Tierney, love her and her character on ER. Chris Meloni from Law and Order SVU: like him, love his character. It is very embarassing. I never intended to be one of those people who lived vicariously through TV but I do, I talk to the characters/actors while I am watching TV. Needless to say I find myself watching TV alone most of the time.

Oh, and I loooooove Insta Glucose.