Holy *bleeep*

If I ever needed proof that blood sugars rocket with stress, I've certainly had it tonight!
I've just seen the very worst BG result ever in my days as a diagnosed diabetic. I vaguely recall hitting numbers like this many years back when I was just starting out, but ever since then? Not a chance.
*gasp*

Y'see... someone from my past wandered back into my life today. It wasn't at all horrible, we just chatted but I knew I was a bit stressed. And yeh I even thought it would knock my blood sugars up a bit but I took a lot of extra insulin to compensate. I didn't test, I was doing one of those stupid stupid things... too scared to see the result, so I planned to test later just in case I overdid the correction. (Why oh why do I do that? It's never sensible in hindsight!)

That was a really really bad idea. I wish I was testing every hour tonight so I could have stayed on top of this.

You should have seen the look on my face when I read the meter. And then when I retested and it said almost exactly the same thing. I couldn't believe it. I could have slapped my meter when it suggested I should test for ketones. I've *never* seen that before.

Ok.. shocking... thankfully it will all be over in a couple of hours and I remember tonight as a lesson in testing regularly!

I think it's ok for me to avoid looking at my 7, 14 and 30 day averages for a while though... boy are they going to be out of whack!

I think I'm slightly in shock after that reading. Woah!

Filling in the gaps

Wow, it's been a long time.
I still think of things to write, yet somehow I never quite get around to writing them. Instead I'm actually spending much less time on the computer and getting out in the fresh air. I have a veggie garden I'm very proud of. Probably losing some of the flat-ness in my butt too ;)

I'm kicking off with a meme here, not entirely exciting huh! But at least I'm saying *something*... and hopefully it wont take me so long to say something else!

The one word meme:

1. Where is your cell phone? Porch
2. Your significant other? None
3. Your Hair? Uneven
4. Your Skin? Tanning
5. Your mother? Wonderful
6. Your favourite thing? Garden
7. Your dream last night? *shrug*
8. Your favourite drink? Water
9. Your dream/goal? Sustainable
10. The room you're in? Bedroom
11. Your ex? Friend
12. Your fear? Ignorance
13.Where do you want to be in 6 years? Here
14.Where were you last night? Sister's
15.What you're not? Stupid
16.Muffins? Chocolate
17.One of your wish list items? CGMS
18.Where you grew up? Wellington
19.The last thing you did? DVD
20.What are you wearing? Jeans
21.Your TV? Off
22.Your pets? Lots
23. Your computer? Good
24. Your life? Sweeeeeet
25. Your mood? Happy
26. Missing someone? No
27. Your car? Reliable
28. Something you're not wearing? Shoes
29. Favourite Store? Market
30. Your summer? Beach!
31. Like someone? No
32. Your favourite color? lots
33. When is the last time you laughed? Afternoon
34. Last time you cried? History
35. Who will respond to this? *shrug*
36. Who's Answers are you anxious to see? Seen!

An Engineer's Guide to Cats

:)

The kitties, 7 months on

For those of you who have been following the kittens life story from birth til now... it's time for an update.

They had heaps of fun today in the garden. It's the first time they've ever seen the soaker hose going, and they thought it was great fun. I thought cats weren't meant to like water!

Check out Pumpkin's ambush and Taco & Noodle's kisses to the camera.

The spring buzz

The sun is out... the air is warm... the garden is going mad!
It's the last day of winter. Bring on Spring!

Spring bulbs... gorgeous :)


Baby broccoli.
Baby Spaghetti Squash. I didn't even know we could get them in New Zealand until I found the seeds.
Veggie garden number one is growing strong. Number two is still mostly bare dirt.

The spring buzz gets me big time. I love the long days, the sunshine on my skin, and the beautiful plants in the garden.

Not to mention losing my extra few kilos of winter weight, getting out for walks on the beach, and being surrounded by other people with the spring buzz! This is a fannnnntastic time of year :)

It's all gone wonky!

It's late evening, I'm checking my blood sugar knowing it's a little high... only to find it's a LOT high, 15.2mmol (270). I just don't see numbers like this any more *gasp*.

It's the middle of the night. I'm feeling ok but a little hungry and desperate for the loo. I always test if I wake up during the night - just as well: 1.4mmol (25)! Yikes. I just don't see numbers that low.. ever! Argh!

It's morning. I'm stuffed, that low really broke my sleep and took away all my energy for today. I suspect I'll be a little high, probably overdid the munchies to correct that low. Testing... Argh! not THAT high, surely! *scream*

It's mid afternoon. Knowing I'm still just a little high I decide to mow lawns to work some of it off. I'm feeling a little odd. Better pop inside and test the blood sugar while I have a little break. Holy crap, not THAT low... 1.8... ok, that's my day totally pooped. This roller coaster stuff really takes it out of me *sigh*

My numbers are normally pretty good. I aim to stay between 4 and 7 most of the day - naturally it fluctuates (I mean, duh, this is diabetes...) but I do quite well. I only manage diabetes so well because I test lots and because I am motivated to work with the results. It's the only way for me to feel I have control enough to live a normal life. It works - I've never once conked out, never had any real diabetes related trouble of any kind.

But now.. ouch. Today's lows were scary. The scariest part being that I was still acting and feeling pretty normal. But I was so worn out from it that I slept most of the afternoon and had to cancel my plans.

What's happened? ME, that's what. I've been testing less, I've been eating more crap, I've been guessing my doses and my numbers. In a nutshell: avoiding diabetes.

I do believe I've been taught an important lesson here! Back to testing lots, that's what works for me. I never intended to slip out of it, it just faded slowly, but trust me there'll be nothing slow about getting my control back!

*kicks own butt*

So, how DO you confuse an idiot?

I apologise in advance for any confusion!!
But I just *had* to post it!

You DORK!!

Just the other day I was talking about taking insulin for granted.
Even then, while I was raving about the wonders of my life-juice and nattering about how we shouldn't take it for granted... I was being a total dork and taking it for granted.

Last week I got a new script. I took my time with it, but finally took it to the chemist on Monday, and told him I'd come back to pick it up on Wednesday. I always have to give him a day or two warning because he never has my stuff in stock (that's another story!).

So Tuesday night rolls around and I feel like supper. I reach for my insulin... 0 units left. Not even one, not even half - zero units left.

How's that for cutting it fine? No supper for me (I'd just BAKED for gawd's sake). NO breakfast this morning until I'd gone all sleepy-eyed down to the chemist either. I don't think I've ever shown my face at the shops in such a mess before - my hair was grotty, my clothes were thrown together, my eyes were barely open... but I stood there with my hand out begging for my Novorapid and then slunk out pretty quick to go home and have a piece of toast.

I do count myself lucky that I had just the right amount for dinner last night and that I managed the night without needing a correction. But man oh man am I kicking myself for not getting my prescription earlier! I *always* have spares in the fridge. I *always* get my prescription well before I need it - now it seems Insulin and I have reached that point in our relationship where we take each other for granted. Doh.

I shall now return to my old ways of keeping one step ahead and treating my insulin as the liquid gold that it is!

Mental note: take your own advice, dork. DUH.