relay for life and something you might not have known

Just got back from the Relay for Life walk, a walk for cancer survivors, their family and friends, and for the friends and family of people taken away from us because of cancer. It was very hard for me to sit through the ceremony. Both of my parents have been through cancer. When I was in second grade, my mom got colon cancer. She had to have her entire colon removed. She had colitis befor being diagnosed...her mother died of colitis when my mom was about six years old. I was only eight years old at the time, but I will never forget every Friday when my mom went to NY for chemo, and how sick she would be when she got home. And then in the summer of 2006, just 5 1/2 months after I was diagnosed with diabetes, and two days after I went on an insulin pump, my dad was diagnosed with Leukemia. It was an extremely difficult time for me, and the entire family. He was in the hospital for a month after he was diagnosed, then he was let out for two or three weeks, and then he went back for another few weeks, let back out for two, and then was on outpatient for his third round of chemo. My mom drove two hours every day to go stay with my dad in the hospital. She took my two younger sisters most of the time, and any other family members who were healthy and wanted to see him (no one with a cold or anyone in contact with a sick person could go...you had to wash your hands each time you entered his room because they wiped out his immune system, getting his white blood cell count down to almost nothing, and then slowly building it back up). I am the only one who never went to see him. I couldnt. I talked to him on the phone a few times, but I could never go. Not because I was sick, not because of diabetes...because it was my dad. My dad who I always saw as this big strong guy who could never be sick. I knew if I went I wouldnt be able to handle it, so I never did. I saw a picture of him from when he was sick, and all I could do was cry. I guess it was worse for me with him, rather than my mom because I actually understood what was going on. I was 15, and when my mom was going through it, I was only 7 or 8. Thankfully both of my parents are very healthy, and in remission. I am thankful for every day I spend with them, and I realize how important family really is, especially in a time of hardship. I may have diabetes, and I will for the rest of my life until we have a cure, but after what I have seen happen to my parents, and some close family friends, I consider myself the lucky one.

Leaking Resevoir...no pump?

Where to begin...well, I was high all day. I started the day off at 377. Corrected, no breakfast and a bottle of water. Negative ketones (thank goodness). Second period at school this morning I test because I'm still feeling lousy- 289. Another correction and downed two bottles of water. Fourth period, lunch. I test-still 289!! Another correction plus coverage for lunch, a 12gm carb fruit cup and another bottle of water. Still no ketones at this point. Sixth period I go back to test as requested by the nurse-364! Correct again and drink yet another bottle of water. Go back to class after getting the OK from mom (she usually never lets me go when I'm this high, but I didnt want to miss the test review). Go through sixth period trying my best to concentrate, then off to chemistry, we had lab today-double period. After the lab, which was the middle of eighth period I went back to the nurse-361. Another correction and another bottle of water. I sat there for the last half hour of the day with the nurse, and another diabetic (who was 484 at the time!!!). We were both sharing diabetes-related stories, laughing, and downing water, and of course, testing every 10-15 minutes. So after I stayed afterschool to make up some French work, I come home and do a site change. When I take the cartridge out of my pump, its soaked with insulin, as is the resevoir compartment in the pump. Instead of getting all of my corrections and boluses, they leaked out into my pump. So, my mom calls MiniMed to see if we can get a new pump sent out as this is the second time this has happened. They won't send us another pump. They told me it was the resevoir, not the pump, and that there was no need to worry about it. Well, I DO WORRY ABOUT IT!!! Thats my health, and I take it seriously. Would it hurt to just swap the pump for a refurb? I am so unhappy with the way MiniMed treats us. Their product/company may be the leaders in technology, but their costomer service is something to be desired. I will not reccomend this pump to anyone if they ask me...I will give my honest opinion. Animas keeps looking better and better to me...Their 2020 has the same features plus more. A food database, more presise dosing, color screen, waterproof, smaller size, leur lock infusion sites, and wonderful costomer service! And, to top it off, they are partnering with dexcom, and are expected to have a cgms-pump combo (like MM) by 2009/early 2010. And, if you have seen the insertion needle for the Minilink...oh boy, that is NOT coming near me. I would much rather wait a little while for the Dexcom (or even get it now) until they are integrated.

My Cozmo pump should have been on its way this week...it's not. Insulet is driving me crazy! They are trying to negotiate with our insurance now, and its becoming a hassle for me. I am back on my MM722, and I am really not happy. I had run out of pods, so I had to switch back or go back to shots. So, after all the fighting, they sent us pods. We got them in the mail today. I can't keep switching back and forth like this, my blood sugars are going nuts! So our insurance company is still trying to get another pump approved for me. I am having second thoughts about the cozmo now. I am trialing an Animas 2020, and I really love it. It's green, lol. I never thought I would want to go on an Animas pump, but I fell in love with this one. It has the SAME features of the MM, plus an added food database. It has smaller dosing, and a wonderful screen, plus, its waterproof and its pretty tiny compared to my 722. Does anyone have any comments on any of the Animas pumps? Did you switch from a MM to an Animas? If you are on the Animas, would you choose their pump again when the warranty expires?

Summer Job

School lets out for me on June 16th. I can't wait, as this year has been extremely tough on me. And on June 22nd, I will be starting my summer job as a beach badge checker! Thats right, I will be getting paid for walking back and forth between three blocks on the beach and checking badges! I am so excited! I love the ocean, and being there six days a week will be wonderful. Now to figure out how I will carry extra pump supplies, insulin, strips, and my meter, all while keepingg them at a safe temperature... Anyways, just wanted to share the news!

Endo Appointment

I had my quarterly endocrinologist appointment yesterday. It went way better than expected, and I had a wonderful drop in my a1c. Back in February my a1c was 10 thanks to my battle with anxiety and my MM722 insulin pump. Yesterday, it was a 7.8!!! Not perfect, but way better than a ten. I have worked really hard these past three months to get there too. I have been exercising 3-5 times a week, I have been eating better, and in general just payed more attention to my diabetes care. And, I went off of my MM722, and onto the OmniPod, which is soon going to change. I have decided to go with the Deltec Cozmo for sure. I looked at the Animas, but I decided that it just wasn't for me, so my Pacific Blue Cozmo should be arriving this week some time. I am very excited about getting the Cozmo because of the features, and the fact that I will be able to choose an infusion set from anyone (unlike MM or OmniPod). Anyways, my next endo appointment is on Auguust 8th. I am excited and ready to work to get my a1c back under 7, with my new PIC (Partner In Crime), cozmo, my stationary bike, my eating habits, and a positive attitude!

Wow. Sorry I haven't posted in a while. I have been way busy with end of the year school projects and the such. Anyways... Tomorrow is my endo appointment. It always seems that every time I have an endo appointment coming up, my numbers go haywire about a week or two beforehand. I don't know why, but it always happens. Crazy numbers, and pump problems have been my battle of the week. Needless to say, I am not looking foward to the appointment. I will be back with the results tomorrow. Wish me luck, lol.

endo appointments + A1c = anxiety

Diabetes is hard. It is hard to control, and hard to deal with emotionally, and physically for some. My last endo appointment was in February. Overall, it just was not a good visit. My A1c reached a whopping 10. My endo was not upset, as there were many contributing factors, mainly anxiety (and some major pump issues). Back between September - early November, I couldn't even ride past my high school without having a panic attack. These panic attacks caused my blood sugars to skyrocket. The first time I walked into the school after all of this happened, my blood sugar shot up to 500mg/dL. Before I went in I was 140mg/dL. This happened every time. It took many months for me to learn to control this, with the help of counseling and the such. Thankfully, I am back in school now, full time. At first I would only go in for a few classes at a time, until I worked my way backwards into a full day. It was difficult, and I spent many nights lying awake in bed just thinking about how stupid I was being, and how much I was going to ruin my future...how I was never going to get into the college of my dreams (Rutgers). I would have never thought that I would ever be back in a classroom, even to this day. Things have gotten better diabetes wise. My control has been wonderful since my last appointment, especially this past month. I am eating healthier, keeping better logs of my blood sugars, and carb and insulin intake, exercising almost daily, and even wearing my medical id. I feel like a new person, and I hope all of the hard work shows at my next endo appointment (Friday 5/23). I am both excited and nervous about this next visit. Mostly about what my A1c will be. I am hoping for anything under 8, and I will work my way down from there. Hopefully my transition to the cozmo wont cause any blood sugar issues, and I can continue on with my good control...I need to stop worrying and believe that I have done enough, and have tried my hardest.

As you know from my earlier post, I am getting a Detec Cozmo insulin pump. I am having an extremely difficult time picking out a color!!! I have narrowed it down to tropical green or pacific blue. The volcano black is just not my style...it seems kind of brick-like to me. I know it sounds weird, but this seems like one of the hardest choices, lol. My first MM was blue, and I didnt really like it, so when it failed I got a clear one. So, I have been taking votes of which color to get. So far its 4.5 for blue, 2.5 for green (yes, my friend cannot decide either). I need to decide by tomorrow/friday-ish. What do you all think I should go for? Oh yeah...I am planing on going to Rutgers for college. Their colors are scarlet and white aka scarlet knights. So, either I look like an American flag, or a Christmas decoration, lol. ;)

MM 722, Omnipod, & CoZmo?

As I mentioned in my first post, I am on an insulin pump. About 5 1/2 months after I was diagnosed with diabetes, I started pumping. My mom wanted me to go on the MM 722, so I agreed because I was tired of MDI and just wanted a pump. I liked for the first month or so, but then I started to regret ever going on an insulin pump...site changes were painful and left me bruised, and delivery of insulin stung so much, that I would avoid eating, or just not cover a meal. I found the people at MM to be extremely rude to us, and very unhelpful. I had many problems with their pump, and they were very unwilling to help at times. Needless to say, my A1c went from a 6.4 to an 8.1 during my first few months of pumping, and then to a 10!!! I was tired of the pump, and I wanted to go back to MDI. That's when I heard about the OmniPod, and I fell in love. My mom and I battled the insurance company to get the OmniPod since my MM was only a year and a half into it's warranty, but we got them to approve it after about a months time. I was so excited, and extremely happy. I have been on the OmniPod since December. But I have run into a problem...Insulet (makers of OmniPod) refuses to ship us pods because they want the money upfront every month, and insurance doesn't pay until the end of the month! My parents don't have 500 dollars to put out every three months for supplies!!! I came home to my mom crying over the whole ordeal. I have four pods left. My insurance agreed to pay for another pump, and since MM and Insulet are out of the question, I have chosen to go with the Deltec Cozmo 1800. I am actually very excited, despite the fact that I will have tubing again. This will be my third pump, and third pump company in less than two years. If anyone has any opinions about the Cozmo pump, and the company itself, please share them with me, as I would love to hear.

sick

It started around 1am. I woke up coughing, sore throat, pounding head, and to add to that, a blood sugar of 194. Perfect. Do a correction of 1.15 units, and try to get back to sleep. I never really did. My alarm went off at 5:30am, like it always does on a weekday, so I shut it off and fell asleep. My mom comes in at 6, yelling for me to get out of bed, so I force myself up out of bed and test my blood sugar; 150, and make my way downstairs. My mom makes a comment that my eyes look bloodshot, so I told her in a raspy voice what was going on. She let me go back to bed after eating breakfast. At 9:30 I had a doctors appointment...wheezing, throat very red, ears don't look good either. I have bronchitis. They have me on an inhaler, and an antibiotic. The inhaler is killing my blood sugars...Overall, just a rainy, cold, and for me, sick day. I'm off to make some hot tea, and relax a little.

Mothers Day

Happy Mothers Day!!! To be a mother, it takes a strong, wonderful person, but to be a mother of a person with diabetes takes an even stronger, more wonderful person. Not many moms can do what a mom of a child with diabetes can do. They watch us give ourselves shots, or give them to us when we're younger, help us with site changes, and they stay strong for us, even though it kills them inside to watch us go through life with diabetes. They stay up with us when we're low at night, make sure we drink lots of water when we're high, get up in the middle of the night when we're young to test our blood sugars, and drive us to our endo appointments. I don't know what I would do without the help from my mom. She has helped me greatly in dealing with diabetes over the last two and a half years, and for that, I can never thank her enough. This disease has made me realize many things, many important things. One of those things is how much I appreciate my mom. I have realized that she is not only my mom, but my best friend. Thank you mom, and thank you to all the moms, especially the moms of a child with diabetes.

First Post

My name is Malyssa. I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes a few years back as a freshman in high school; I was 14 at the time. I am now 17, and I have been battling this disease for almost two and a half years. I have been on two different insulin pumps so far, soon to be three. First a MM 722, and now an OmniPod (soon to be changing because of issues with Insulet). I have been reading blogs written by people with diabetes for well over a year now, and I have finally gotten up the courage to make one myself. I have two younger sisters, and a wonderful mother and father. I hope that by creating this blog, I can help others, as other bloggers have helped me. I will share my experience as a teen with type 1, and probably ramble on about random things as well. I am very excited to start this blog, and become a part of the online blogging community!