Monthly Archives: September 2012

Weekend. Get things done.

September 7, 2012 – 8:28 pm

Yes, it’s the weekend. This is a “get things done” weekend. I’m thinking about the weekend right now over a cold beverage.

I’ve got to get outside and get some items crossed off of my list. Mow the grass, spray some weeds away, clean the filter for the water garden. Also, clean the gutters, change out a couple of lights, and maybe get some laundry done. Make a trip with to the dump with a lot of old junk that’s been piling up. And that’s just for starters.

Oh, and I’ve got to get on my bike again this weekend, like I’ve been trying to do (as much as I can) these days. I haven’t mentioned it yet, but I have another ride coming up next Saturday. This one is (at least in part) a JDRF ride, so I’m excited about that. I just hope the weather cools off a bit between now and then. Without any rain. Is that too much to ask?

Here’s the thing about all this stuff I have to do: How much gets done will really depend a lot on how my glucose is trending. An ill-timed low can leave me too tired to do much. Too high, and I’ll probably get things done but feel like crap. Have I mentioned that diabetes sucks in that way?

If you’re a Person With Diabetes, I’m not telling you anything you don’t know. And if you’re a PWD without a weekend off, you probably think I’m way too self-centered. And you’re probably right. At least that’s how I felt about people like me when I worked weekends for about 18 years. Sorry about that.

I guess what I’m saying is that I’m thinking about something I don’t have total control of, that may or may not affect me in the next 12 to 36 hours. And I want to get it out of my head.

I hope I’m not thinking about it tomorrow and Sunday.

And most of all, I hope your weekend is filled with less tasks and more reflection. More play and less work. More joy and less sorrow.
 
 
 

By StephenS | Posted in Diabetes | Tagged , | Comments (1)

Nano-Not.

September 6, 2012 – 8:45 am

A couple of weeks ago, I did a short post about my new Accu-Chek Nano, and at the bottom of the post, I mentioned how I lost it on the train home.

Well, I got a new one last Saturday (thanks Amazon merchants). And on my way to work today, I lost it again!

Am I not meant to have a new meter? I’ve got almost 90 days worth of test strips, so for practical reasons at least, I should have a new meter. Of course, I could just donate the strips to someone who needs them more than I do. Like maybe the people who found my new meters. Plural.

Sorry… just kicking myself today. I’m not a forgetful person, but the past two weeks have been a new low in absent-mindedness.
 
 
 

By StephenS | Posted in Diabetes | Tagged , | Comments (0)

Nineteen.

September 5, 2012 – 7:24 am

When I think back on it, it’s hard to believe that 19 years ago today, this woman agreed to a life sentence with me:

At the time, I had a crummy job that earned about half what she was making. In reality, I had no business at all (pun intended) asking her to marry me.

But she said yes, and I am here to report that the results have all been favorable.

Look, when you’ve been married for 19 years (and lived together for 2 years, dated 3 years before that), you’re going to fight. There will be times when you don’t get your way. There will be mistakes made, and apologies given. There will be lots of laughter and shared exhilarating experiences. Goals achieved, and dreams realized and dashed.

But here’s the secret: When you wake up every morning and think “Who’s the most fun person to spend my day with?”… if that’s the same person every day, you know you’ve found the one. Even after an ill-timed joke about it being “Talk Like a Pirate Day”.

Happy Anniversary Memen!
 
 
 

By StephenS | Posted in Additional Inspiration | Tagged , , | Comments (0)

Recipe!

September 4, 2012 – 7:50 am

We don’t always eat like this at the homestead. But I got a sale on Jumbo Lump crab meat and we decided to do a little surf & turf this past weekend. We grilled a little steak and split it three ways, made some killer corn on the cob, and I made a delicious tomato salad (that’s another recipe for another day).

And I went to work on my crab cake recipe.

The first rule about making a good crab cake is to start with the best crab meat you can afford. The better the crab, the less you need herbs and seasonings to bring out the goodness. Starting with Jumbo Lump crab meant that we didn’t need a lot extra. But I only used this because I got a great deal. Normally, it’s way over my budget.

1 Pound of crab meat

1 Teaspoon celery salt

1/2 Teaspoon pepper

1 Tablespoon seafood seasoning (like Old Bay seasoning)

1 Tablespoon fresh parsley

2 Tablespoons mustard (in this case, we used one tablespoon of regular mustard and one tablespoon of the spicy brown stuff)

About a handful of seasoned bread crumbs

Mix everything except the crab meat… then fold in the crab gently. Once everything is together, form the crab cakes by hand and place them on a cooking sheet. Then cook at 375 degrees (farenheit) for about 20-25 minutes. About long enough to heat everything through, and get a bit of a brown crust on top.

Once on the plate, feel free to sprinkle a little lemon juice on top. Like many other seafood dishes, feel free to enjoy with either cocktail sauce or tartar sauce.

Enjoy!

Total estimated carb count in each crab cake: 8 grams (only in the bread crumbs, really)

Carb counts are estimates only. Check with a registered dietician to find out what a healthy carb count is for you.
 
 
 

By StephenS | Posted in Recipes! | Tagged , , | Comments (1)

Has it been 3 months already?

September 3, 2012 – 8:48 am

Happy Labor Day in America! Here in the USA, we set aside the first Monday in September to celebrate those working souls who have, and continue, to help make this country what it is. At least the good things that it is. Those working souls are most of us, so here’s to us.

Has it been three months already? In fact, it has been three months since I last visited my endocrinologist. Last Friday was the time to get some tests done, talk about the last three months with regard to my diabetes, and make any necessary adjustments.

My A1c? It was a little better than last time. Out of deference to some of the people I’ve been reading in the DOC (Diabetes Online Community), I’m not revealing what that number is anymore. Those people are right… it’s just a number, and I don’t want anyone feeling really good or really bad about where they are based on my numbers. Everyone is different. Your Diabetes May Vary.

We talked about a lot of things in this visit. We decided that I need to adjust my nighttime basal rate down a bit, and also adjust my morning basal down a bit.

But I also admitted to something that I think I’ve been doing for a while, but I haven’t let on to yet:

I feel like I’m starting to bolus based on where I want my BG to be, rather than based on where my BG is and what I’m eating. I think that I’ve been starting to say to myself, for example, “Okay, I’m a little high now; I’m going to bolus a little extra to get to where I want to be, and 100 mg/DL is too high”. Do you do that, or is it just me?

My endo told me that my insulin usage has been about 60% basal, 40% bolus. Interesting to know, but is that good? It turns out that the percentages should probably be a little closer to 50-50. However, she added, “That thing where you’re over-bolusing to get to a certain low target? Stop that.” Okay, Doctor.

We also talked about my 100 mile bike ride back in June, where I had gotten dehydrated at the end. I’m hoping to do a ride co-sponsored by JDRF in a couple of weeks, and I was seeking advice on how to keep history from repeating itself.

The answer is to get a little more salt in my system prior to the ride, to get a little more protein in my system during the ride, that electrolytes are good early in the ride (but not late), and to listen to my body, and if it’s bothering me, to give it up and live to ride another day.

That’s about all. It was a good visit. I like being able to talk with a doctor who speaks the same language. Who I can ask questions of, and who I feel comfortable answering questions from. Not much more to it than that. I hope your next visit goes as well.
 
 
 

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