Are We Making Things More Complicated?

"Me Looking Confused"

I have to tell you,  sometimes I think we make things more complicated then they need to be.

What am I getting at?

I am not talking about relationships.  I am referring to technology, blood glucose testing, CGM's, and the hundred new meters and pumps that battle it out for a piece of the economic pie.

I have always tried every new meter, and reverted back to the simple design.

Mentally it is taxing, for me anyways.  Let me explain a little further.

I have talked about Flip-Flopping back and forth from Pump to MDI, and insulin to insulin. But in all this Self Experimentation, it all comes down to behaving my self in the diet department.

I can achieve decent control on just about any insulin regime, with the exception of the old fashion two shot a day regime. AS LONG AS; I measure smaller amounts of carbs accurately, don't cave to the temptations of cookies and milk, and cover my fasting states with enough basal insulin.

I see so many folks (myself included) that chase numbers, or make changes to quickly, before waiting for a trend to occur. Thus creating a serious yo-yo effect in the blood glucose readings, or some rather erratic readings in general.

I have driven myself bananas in the past doing the above, only to end up back where I started.

The best A1C I ever achieved, I say achieved cause that's exactly what it is, was 6.2.  It was a result of exercise and diet. Surprisingly before the use of fancy pumps, CGM's and super computer meters. Good old fashioned injections.

Now I am an advocate for doing what ever works, and these devices have increased my and many others quality of life in other ways, like; flexible bolusing, more accurate basal profiles, and less injections, but for me it has never really improved my control.

I find we live in a world where we look for an easy solution, I've been searching for one my whole life with diabetes, but with anything you want to be successful at, it comes down to our choices, actions and work.

Devices, as complicated, neat, and effective as they appear, can work well but;  if we don't measure our carbs, pay attention to trends, plan our exercise,  our diabetes control will inevitably waver.

Just my humble take on things.

Trev

School for Type 1 Kids - What's Your take?

This post is directed at Parents caring for school aged Type 1 kids.  In my recent post "To Pump or Not to Pump"  there was a period we took Rowan (our 6 yr old pumper) off her pump. To give her a break. 

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The experience of breaking from the pump was a difficult one. Hence the post.

I have to be honest, we were very frightened when sending our little insulin dependent 5 year old pumper to school, who can't feel her lows.  Will they test her often, will they feed her activity, will she be okay? It is very frightening at first. 

Now she is back on her "Mr Wizard" pump and things are running smoother.  However, when we had her off the pump it got me thinking, and that's never a good thing. 
First off, our school have been absolutely amazing! They have been willing to take on the responsibility for Rowan's Diabetes management, they have learned how to problem solve, count carbs, and they know how to communicate with "Mr Wizard"  The communication has been bar none the best I could ask for. 

That was with the pump.  During the pump break I had to inject her at lunch time, for legal purposes further documentation was needed due to the switch in insulin delivery (Pump to Injections) It was easier for me to just spend lunch with the wee one then to track down an endo or GP to sign the 4 page document.

I am curious as to what other parents go through, challenges, difficulties, positives, anything related to having a Child with Type 1 in your particular school system.

My School is great and do everything possible to meet the needs of Rowan, and us as a Family.

How is your school? 

Basically what's your take on Type 1 kids in the school system?