The Things We Find

As some of you may know, I have a few Diabetes People in DA House.

And, any of you with kids, or even those who have been temporarily exposed to these tiny creatures, it is a known fact that possessions can,  and will mysteriously disappear in their company.

I have found my missing watch buried in the closet around dolly's neck. I have stumbled upon the TV remote underneath my toddlers pillow, and the list goes on, and on........

So the other night, I was looking for my daughters fancy glucometer, the Contour USB port one, to no avail.
So I decided to evoke my right as commander in chief to start Operation "FIND ALL THE DIABETES STUFF"  So it began.....

After about an hour of rummaging, cushion flipping, junk drawer emptying, doll house searches, we had a pile of supplies on our counter.

We had glucometers, Pens, Empty Pens, Needles, Needle TIPS, Empty and full test strips, Lancets,  and empty vials of insulin. Crazy the amount of stuff, I honestly didn't know we had.

As I was matching all the strips to meters to lancets to cases, I thought of the DOC, and how odd it is that this really is the norm for us folks.

Instead of finding the remote stuffed between a couch cushion, we find a meter, instead of finding a pen on the counter we find an insulin pen.

Bizarre how normal it becomes.

Cheers!

Trev 

Play Time Anyone?

"Play Time"

It seems that people are still checking in on Three 2 Treat even though I haven't been devoting any time to writing. I am really honoured that folks all over the world, like Russia, Greece, and wow the UK, huge shout out!!!  

I have been attempting to simplify my life a little bit, well, mentally, stripping away the numerous distractions, activities, hobbies, etc, in order to reflect on things.

Diabetes was one of those things I needed to, well, cut back on, if you follow me. It consumes my home life, work life, my online life, my kids, etc.  Its a huge consumer of my mental energy that inevitably distracts me from enjoying the finer things in life like play time.

I have been spending time focusing on Playing, Yup, Playing.   Getting excited to come home from work and go to the play ground to play on the climber, swing on the monkey bars, chase the soccer ball, kids and dogs around the field. Walk in the grass barefoot, lie on the grass and examine the clouds. Just be in the moment, enjoying the smells, feeling the breeze and the sun radiating down it's life giving energy.  Playing is Great!

It seems that as we grow older some of us forget to play. I know I did. Sure....we take vacations, go to dinner, drink too much on occasion, but I'm referring to non-goal oriented, unstructured unrestricted totally let loose play!  Man it really is invigorating and fun!

I was getting so caught up in work, diabetes, writing, commitments, life, tasks, lists, that I forgot to PLAY.

So I am asking you all to give it a try, no goals, no objectives, in the moment, Play, just like kids.

Cheers!

WARNING;
Excessive playtime may result in serious happiness, improved relations with loved ones and pets, better blood glucose control, weight loss, better cardio, toned muscles, happy children, cool parent syndrome, serious stress reduction.  It is recommended to gradually increase play time to avoid the above sudden side effects.

Top Ten List: Things We Are Told Not to Do But Do Anyways

1.  Over Eating to Correct a Low

2.  Leaving the Infusion Set in "Just one More Day"

3.  Leaving the Lancet in your Finger Poker for Waaayyyy toooo Long.

4.  Re-Using Syringes, to the point where it really does hurt

5.  Eating when High - y'all know it's best to wait

6.  Chasing Numbers - AKA treating a food reading with another bolus of insulin

7.  Making spontaneous basal changes - Like I'm low, I'll just shut it off for a bit.

8.  Ignoring alarms - both mechanical and internal, pump, CGM, and our own lows.

9.  Eye Balling Gargantuan Amounts of Carbs, even though we know how to use the scale.

10.  My favorite, licking the blood drop off the finger post prick!  Makes me feel really rebellious.

What are some of your "Things You've Been Advised Not to Do"

Have an Awesome Day!

Trev

My Mind is a Garden

I used to say this to myself on occasion when I was younger, like 20's younger. I can't say I came up with the concept, because I picked it up from a book I read back then called, The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari by R.S. Sharma.

It was one of the concepts he presented in his book. I honestly can't find the book.  But to this day it proves to be a good mantra.

Think about it.  We need to protect our mind from the constant bombardment thrown at it daily from the outside world.  Media, movies, and negative people we may encounter in our daily travels.  My post called Help or Hinder I wrote a while back about those who can be called hinderers and those people who we call helpers is an example of the filter we need to use to protect our "Garden" of a brain.

Where am I going with this? 

I think we all have a tendency to go on "Auto Pilot" the daily grind so to speak but a meeting I had today made me ponder life.

 This post was prompted by an elderly gentlemen I met in my daily travels. He is 94, almost 95. Sharp as a nail, an absolutely amazing person.  He has been on this planet since 1916.  I listened to him tell me about his life and I was in total awe for well over an hour.  Now that's a feat for a guy who's nickname used to be the road runner.

He said to me life is a blessing.  It is a gift. To be able to experience the joys of love, laughter, children, and of course golf.  Now I am not a golfer, but this fellow still hits the course once or twice a year. Amazing or what!!!  He stretches every day. He has lived all over the world and as he says "My wife and I were to busy having fun to argue, she was an amazing woman!"  What an amazing outlook on life.

Needless to say I left this interaction pondering the journey of life. People we love, people who love us. Places we live, the magnificent world we live in. Life truly is an amazing journey. Often over shadowed by our daily routine.

I just wanted to share this interaction. It inspired me to look at all aspects of my life. Where I've come from, where I am, and where I am going. Most importantly to appreciate all of it.

In the grand scheme of things Diabetes was only a small part of the over all picture.

Oh, back to the "Garden".... Basically;  I need to focus on the positive things that nurture my mind, let it grow, and keep it healthy.

I am off to go water my brain---kidding.

Trev

Mouthy Monday?!

"Ahhhh, Blue Skies"

Okay the last two posts have been a little on the dry side.

So as I peer out my office window and the sky is blue, like sunshine blue,  it motivates me to write about fun stuff.  Don't worry it is my lunch break so I can spend a little time blogging, surfing, etc.

Why the title?  I don't know really. I was going to post about sugar levels, and pumping, but kind of sick of it, since all three of us Type 1's in our crazy house are on this super strict recording kick. 

Basically a whole week-end of asking:

"Did you write it down"
          "What did you eat for carb?"
                   "Dareian go test Rowan, please"
                             "When did you take your insulin last"
                                        "How much carb did you eat?"
                                              "While write it down then so
                                                          I know what to change"

The dialogue goes on and on.........not to mention my own recording. I decided to wait to buy the CGM sensors, and bought food instead.

Monday 's my day to yack!  No,  not throw up....but just talk, or type.  No agenda, what ever comes to mind. I am sure diabetes will creep up in the post at some point, as it has above. Oh well.

So if you notice my pic, taken today; the sky is blue, but we still have the white stuff, which is melting, thank goodness.

I did something crazy this week-end, are you ready for this, I took five kids to a community swimming pool.
Normally I would pre-medicate to stay calm (kidding) We arrive, on Saturday and the place is packed.

The pool, I swear has hired 2 life guards for every swimmer, and if you let your child go outside the meter radius they scold you, seriously.  So you can well imagine the scenario(I get scolded every time) It is better now because I only have 2 kids under 8 to keep in reach.  The others are independent enough to go off on their own.

So Rowan and I disconnect our wizards, and lock up over 10000 dollars worth of pumps into our 50 cent locker. I always hesitate ever so slightly before I walk away, but they are always awaiting our return.

Then we swim, risking our infusion sets, as they may and almost always do peel off, but this time they stay intact, another plus because this also means we save about 50 bucks.

"Don't let the Cuteness Decieve you"

My three year old non-d has turned into an alien like Stitch from the Disney Movie.  Crazy, non stop, fearless, non-listening, testy, lil, monster, but cute. Cute for her safety.

My only diabetes message in case any reader is looking for one is.......life goes on regardless of having the D, in between testing, recording, treating, thinking,  enjoy those fun moments like swimming, sunshine, non-D stuff!

Did I also mention I am the champ at crazy 8's, oh ya baby!!!!

Happy Monday! 

Trev

Top 10 List: Diabetic Thoughts about Sugar Levels

"What's Your Sugar?"

Something a PWD always has their mind, that is Glucose Levels.

1. Wonder what my sugar is?

2. Is this ache or thingy diabetes related, because my sugar's been high?

3.  Am I hungry or is my sugar low?

4.  I am so tired, must be my sugar.

5.  Wonder if I should eat that(cake, pie, donut) what's my sugar?

6.  Am I thirsty or is it my sugar high?

7.  Gee I have to pee again, whats my sugar?


8.  Gee can't seem to get it working(use your imagination) must be my sugar

9.  10 more reps, wonder what my sugar is?

10.  Am I cranky or is it my sugar?

I know there are many more so feel free to comment.

Cheers.

Trev

Diabetic Sacrifices - Trading French Toast for Eggs Sucks!

versus

I was totally bummed this morning.  Let me explain...

My wife and I are finally able to perform the morning launch sequence(aka getting the kids out the door) in unison which is much better for everyones mental well being. However, we still need to get up that extra fifteen minutes, then again as my wife would say, even if we did get up earlier the kids would find some way to squander the time away and we'd be wasting our time redirecting them and keeping them on task.

Apparently two of our kids have ADD/ADHD, which we were in denial for along time about.  But when compared to the undiagnosed kids it is obvious who needs more structure and redirection especially in the morning when all are groggy and half asleep. Add to this two type one kids and a toddler, well, if you read my blog or have your own crazy house-o-kids then it's pretty hairy.

Anyway back to me and my seriously bummed out incident. 

So as I was performing my short order cook duties, cooking Alpha Ghetti for the lunches, making french toast, and scrambled eggs for breakfast, and my wife was whipping up wardrobes and hair styles for our five girls.  This is how it went down....

We yell, "Come sit down for breakfast" they all come stumbling into the kitchen, "go sit down I said, as they are wandering to the four corners of the family room and not the table. I say "Grace,  grab some forks, and Abby, sit down already, geez go get some socks on (let you guess the one with the above Diagnosis)" All the while the Goob(3 yr old) is attached to my pants telling me about her my little pony and asking for a drink.

We finally all sit down, it is 8:30, and time for departure is 8 min give or take a minute or two.

"Rowan, did you test you're sugar? Like I asked."  As she has syrup dripping down her figures. Up from the table, wipe the hands, test the sugar, phew, 5.6mmol(multiply by 18 for the USA) program the bolus, even though I should have done this 20 minutes ago, oh well doing the best we can here.

Finally, I grab my testing stuff, insulin, etc and sit down to my delicious looking plate of scrambled eggs and french toast. Test and 22.5 mmol. Ahhh man. That sucks, I was so looking forward to the french toast. I felt like a pouting little kid being told I couldn't eat the candy. But I knew I had to give up my french toast.

I glance over to my wife and ask, "you wanna trade my french toast for your eggs?"  She knew, and said okay, we swapped and I wolfed down breaky to  get all where there needed to go on time.

I am obviously still bummed about the french toast, but at least I know I made the right choice because 2 hrs later my sugar is 5.8 mmol.

The sacrifices us PWD have to make I tell ya!

Trev  

Home Work Due Now?!



"A reenactment of the Blank Screen"

"Dad it's due tomorrow, not Thursday"
Ah crap!  as I mumble WTF in a Yosemite Sam grumble under my breath, I know not very parental of me, but just telling it like it is. 

Alright, mom did the last two book reports, now it's my turn.

So I crack open the laptop, and start writing a mock letter to Steven Spielberg to pitch the book my daughter just read as his next potential blockbuster. It was part of the list of book report options. Sounded fun at the time.

My Daughter's job was to read the book, and take summary notes so when project time came we'd sit down and do it.  Why don't things ever just pan out smoothly as I envision they should in my minds eye. Why, I ask, oh why?

So, we sit down together, and start the report. I start us off in the obvious way, Dear Mr Spielberg.......

My wife is rooting through drawers looking for scrapbooking pages, Nick knacks, and cool lettering for the presentation portion of the report.

Abby and I continue writing.  We tell Mr Spielberg how great a book this is and how it would be a hit.  We explain the main characters and who should play them.  We finally after two hours finish the report.  Went pretty smooth, right?   Wrong.

Abby, jumps up and says let's see if we can print it.  When she did this she unplugged our 6 year old Mac Book with no rechargeable battery and the screen went black.  I immediately knew we were screwed. I said shit!(and maybe a few other choice words), rebooted the computer, waited, waited, and only the first paragraph appeared.  I said;  In  a compressed, I'm going to explode tone of voice, Abby please leave.  I felt bad after.  But shit, I had to retype the whole damn thing. Argh, I was pissed at the machine more then Abby, accidents happen but why, oh why at midnight!!!

After another 60 minutes of intense memory recall, and close to 1 AM,  I finished. My wife and I drank warm milk. The letter to Steven was complete. FINALLY, and saved, multiple times during the second composition.

"My Brain on Homework"

This has nothing to do with diabetes by the way, I just realized this now.  There is some proof that if you over use your brain you can have a low blood sugar, which I had, since the brain uses glucose as it's primary source of energy.  Hmmm, I definitely over used my coconut that evening.

Trev

Top 10 list: Diabetes time wasters

"One thing we can't escape, that is time"

1.  Pharmacies, why it takes 20 minutes to print a label and slap it
on a box I'll never know.....

2.  Waiting for your Dr to see you even though your appointment was 45 minutes ago

3.  Lab work, same as above, you have an appointment, and yet still have to wait....on an empty stomach to boot 

4.  Waiting to see if your sugar is  going to trend down from a super high

5. Cancelling a workout cause your sugar is too high or posting one if it is to low

6.  Driving all the way back home cause you forgot your supplies, or your kid forgot theirs

7.  Treating and waiting for your suger to rise, really sucks at 3 AM

8.  Yearly drivers medical, time waster and money sucker

9. Time spent explaining the difference between type 1 and type 2

10.  All the thinking involved in calculating carbs, corrections, and doses, site changes and all other critical thinking that involves diabetes management. 



What are our Diabetes Time Wasters?

Sleep, Oh How I love Thee!

"What I need to avoid at work"

The title was suppose to be:  All You Need Is Love Sleep

If you read my last post, well, lets just say I am ready to go another round or two! Didn't Rocky make like 8 or 9 movies, I can't recall but it was a lot! I am steering away from seriousness to be more in favour of fun, easy, less obsessed. I want to thank you all for reading my blog, and giving me your feedback, it is moocho appreciated.

So back to the topic of sleep.

On my way to work in the cold(fridgid) winter months  I often notice people jogging or walking.  Now, don't get me wrong, I love the idea, or concept of working out, as it is good for you. But....I must identify what I find odd. 

Here are the oddities (to me anyway):

It's freezing!!! Like colder then your freezer. Like freakin cold!!!  I don't get it? If I don't have to be somewhere, like work, then leave me in my warm bed.  Now if I lived near the beach and it was sunny, then I may be inclined to get up early and exercise. But not in the dark, freezing cold Canadian Winter.

The funniest thing is the jogger with the little bags of pet doo-doo; I do thank all the pet owners for picking up the doo-doo drops.  However, I completely LMAO when I drive by and see the steam filled pouch being held my the early morning dog jogger, pinched ever so delicately with their mitted hand. Too funny!

Running on pavement?  Never understood the concept.  I know it kills my knees, and I am young. But running on cold, freezing, icy pavement, just goes contrary to the act of trying to improve one's health. To me it is a risk benefit thing. Run, wreck my knees, slip on ice, break a hip.  I say take a day off, and get some rest.

Okay. Before all you die hard runners, send the "Lynch Mob" style comments.  I do admire your discipline.  I guess to me; sleep, even on the best of days is something I find difficult to squeeze into my 24 hr day. 

Treating late evening highs, checking my little Type 1's  blood glucose through the night, or waiting for her levels to reach  safe range before hitting the pillow. Sleep is my priority.

I guess, I just think, sleep is often last on the list of important "Healthy Activities"  People work, clean, watch prime time TV, and catch the news, and more often then not, sleep is last on the list.

Not for this family.

As for physical activity.  I work out in the evening. Always have, and most likely always will. I know the early bird gets the worm, but who cares, who wants the worm anyways!

I know there are some dazzling studies about how society is getting less and less sleep compared to times past. But I will leave this blog light and fluffy today, so I can save time for some sleep. 

Trev

Do you Brush your Tongue?

Diabetic Dental Work, apparently it should be a priority for me.

One of my kids told me my breath smelled like "poop" the other day. Nice(sarcasm) So of course I confirmed the kids assessment with my wife, she politely said, "Yup, you stink, but so do I" Thanks honey!

It got me thinking about Dental work, and of course Gum Disease and Diabetes

Not to mention, is it just me, but the older I get I feel as though I am rotting from the inside out. Just a thought...

Kids are honest, what can I say. So I guess Monday I will call the Dental Office for a good scrubbing, remove the plaque, get the usual "You really should floss daily, blah, blah, blah....." He means well, but like, tell me something I don't already know.  I am lucky if I have time at home to use the bathroom with out one of the kids banging down the door with multiple requests, or just to hang out.  Who does that, I mean really, why hang out in the bathroom!

Oh well, to pull the theme and my rambling into something diabetes related, in case a reader does actually want some info.  Gum Disease, gingivitis (inflammation and bleeding gums) is more common in those with diabetes. Yes I know, like we don't have enough to think about. I have heard about the eyes, the feet, now the teeth.  Yup, living tissue including the gums is effected by poorly controlled Diabetes. Those run away sugar molecules are insidious little buggers!

Back to the gums.  It is super important to get the routine cleaning done by a dental professional, and to have good oral hygiene practices.  If not, gum disease and inflammation can lead to serious infections and problems elsewhere in the body. Like the heart, and general higher levels of inflammation through out the body.   Not good!

I wish I could say that the above scary paragraph is my motivator for a dental cleaning and consistent oral flossing, however, when you are told your mouth smells like "Poop" that certainly gets me fired up and ready to kick my feet up in the cool dental chair.  Bring on the drill or what ever thingy the dentist uses to file the plaque away and fix up the mouth.

Once again, kids are totally honest, but incredibly cute!

Trev