Type 1 Diabetes ~ New Technology And Me

Bound to be some problems, right? And I set myself up, for sure.

I've had Type 1 diabetes since I was 49 years old, so over 30 years now. Most commonly ocurring in children and young adults, it can happen later in life as well. 

The first 10 years were very difficult. But still, I was grateful it happened later in life, so I could have all those fun adventures I had when I was young.

Since I got my first pump more than 20 years ago, everything has been much easier. I'm usually able to manage my diabetes  well.  My A1c is always under 7 (in case you've heard that TV commercial -- 7 is the cut off point for reasonably good control).

Some days are easy, everything works, my sugars don't rise too high, emotions are under control (yes, they make you sicker too), and no tempting/but bad food has landed in my system. 

Other days are sheer hell, but I won't dwell on those. They come and they go and life goes on.

However, while I'm so very grateful to have been fully vaccinated for covid-19 with the Moderna vaccine, I've had problems managing my diabetes since I received my second dose. 

Since I got my first pump over 20 years ago, this has never happened. 

I've talked to my diabetes team, but will not have the complete discussion with them until the beginning of April. I must have a blood test before then and also upload my pump data to their office. 

I know I will get some good advice and make changes toghether with them to my insulin pump programmig. 

I also got a new insulin pump recently. I set it up myself, no problems. I verified it with Kathy, who is part of my team, and also a friend by now. 

But Kathy and I forgot to go over the meter. The thing that I use to check my sugars. It's supposed to transfer the data, the result of the each blood sugar test, to the insulin pump. My previous ones did this also and I don't recall any issues with setting them up. 

This one had 21 steps to follow, most of them logical, but confusing at the same time. Makes no sense I know, it may have something to do with my advanced age and lousy blood sugar control (the higher the sugars, the thicker the brain fog).

Funny thing was, I thought I had messed everything up, tears of frustration were gathering in my eyes as I entered a strip in the meter, pricked my finger and added my blood. 

I was so sure it wouldn't work. But then I looked, and, as Errol would have said, "there it is!" and there it was. In both places, both the meter and the pump. 

I had done everything correctly. 

So there it is, and the lesson(s): 

No point in getting frustrated, particularly not before you know that you messed up. 

Things may not be as hard as you think they are. 

Or you may be smarter than you think. 

And save those tears until you really need them. 

I'm sure you, my friends,  can come up with some more.