Author Archives: StephenS

Hello… I’m Stephen. I live in Baltimore, Maryland, USA with The Great Spousal Unit, Maureen. I’ve been living with Type 1 Diabetes since January 1991. I’ve been a pump user since April 2010, and I’m currently wearing the Animas Vibe pump. Also wearing the Dexcom G5 continuous glucose monitor.

I found the Diabetes Online Community in the summer/fall of 2011, and that discovery has changed my life. I started this blog in April 2012, and since then, my diabetes advocacy has continued to grow. Among other achievements, I’ve attended and spoken up at FDA workshops and participated in clinical trials.

I’ve been thrilled to serve as a facilitator for the Diabetes UnConference. And I’ve been honored to volunteer for Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition. You should Google both of those.

I’m currently serving as a member of the State of Maryland’s Advisory Council on Health and Wellness, where I am co-chair of the Diabetes committee. In addition, I’m part of the 2018 Reader Panel at Diabetes Forecast magazine.

I’m always searching for the perfect balance between the highs and lows of my blood glucose level and my life… always searching for the Happy Medium.

Anything you’d like to share? Please let me know… I’d love to hear from you.

Superstitions.

May 1, 2012 – 11:16 am

I have another word for superstition:  habit.

Often, we get so used to doing something in a such a specific way, it seems unnatural to do it any other way.  When I was younger, I played a lot of baseball.  And then softball.  And I subscribed to every last superstition.  Don’t touch the baselines, don’t mention a streak or a no-hitter in progress or you’ll jinx it.  Take the same number of practice swings before each at-bat.  Oh, I had a superstition for everything.

Well, today I’m not a big fan of that.  In fact, I enjoy doing things differently.  I like variety.  I dig changing things up now and then.

But I do have a few habits when it comes to my life with diabetes.

Prior to my pump, I used to hold the syringe exactly the same way before each injection.  I tapped the syringe the same number of times before getting down to business, whether it was necessary or not.  And you can bet that I had my favorite injection sites, and used them more often than I probably should have.

Do I have my favorite infusion sites today?  On my sides, although I’m a side sleeper, so I have to be careful.  I also like to keep the pump clipped right in the middle at night.  At least while I’m sleeping…

I also have my favorite fingers to test on (the ring fingers).  I almost never use my index fingers.  Why?  I’m not sure I can tell you.  I think it has to do with the clunky lancet devices back in the early nineties that made my fingers feel like they were being pricked by a dull icepick, with the force of a cannon blast.  Doing that, and then using a computer mouse or holding a pen was actually painful back then.

I have a couple of pills that I take, plus a couple of vitamins each day.  And you know what?  I take them in exactly the same order every day.

Looking back on it now, I think I should change up some of those routines.  Don’t want to get into a rut.  But I also have to realize that I should do what works best for me.  Because right now, things are working pretty well.

Do you have superstitions?  Or are they habits?  Whatever they are, I say go for what works for you.  But don’t be afraid to change it up!  You might find a new habit that works just as well.

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Recipe!

April 30, 2012 – 11:24 am

Ramen with a little extra...

It was a little cold this weekend, so I got out one of the old reliables to warm me up.  Everyone has their version of kicked-up Asian noodles, and this was my version on Saturday:

First, instead of water, I used chicken stock.  If I don’t have that, I’ll throw a bullion cube in the water while it heats up.  While the water is heating, I look for any leftovers in the fridge.  Onions, tomatoes, whatever I’ve got.  Once I got to the step where you boil the noodles, I added:

1 tablespoon butter
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 1/2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

If I’ve got that much in it, I don’t even need the little seasoning packet.  So I threw it away.  I didn’t have any onion, which would have been nice.  But I did have some tomato, which I threw in once the noodles were finished.  I topped it with some leftover broccoli slaw.  And I had a little bit of Iberico cheese left (Iberico is made from a combination of cow, sheep, and goat’s milk), so I grated that on top.  Certainly warmed me up on a cold afternoon.

Estimated carbohydrate count:  34g (if you eat half and share the other half with someone… or eat the other half later).  Most of it is from the noodles, and a little from the tomato.

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

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Fridays.

April 27, 2012 – 11:12 am

WARNING. This post has nearly nothing to do with diabetes. We all need a break sometimes.

Never get tired of Fridays. Even if there’s nothing to look forward to. Fortunately, this weekend, there’s a lot… if the weather holds.

Saturday or Sunday, I should finally get my vegetable garden planted. Can’t wait for the fresh lettuce in about 7 or 8 weeks! Then green beans, then peppers, then tomatoes, then potatoes (yes, that’s the correct spelling… I’m not Dan Quayle). If I’m lucky, I’ll get a few strawberries and blackberries before the birds get them. This will be the 15th summer that we’ve been at this house, and I never get tired of planting, tending, and harvesting a garden. And this will be the 10th year for the pond on the other side of the yard (did I mention that we have a really small yard?). Every spring I have to drain it, clean it, and fill it up again. I’m hoping to get that in this weekend too. It’s very fun to enjoy a Sunday afternoon by the pond with a cold malt beverage and some jazz or a ballgame on the radio. Simple pleasures.

On Saturday we’re looking forward to seeing our friend Christine in her first appearance singing with her new band. We haven’t been out for a while. We need to shake off the winter rust. This should do the trick.

Wherever you are, I hope your weekends are fun… and I hope you have someone fun to spend it with. And stay safe, and keep those BGs in line you knuckleheads!

Happy Friday

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Super Dia-heros

April 26, 2012 – 11:08 am

The world needs more Superheros!

I suppose so. But I can think of a few Superheros that I would like to retire… as soon as possible.

The Great Spousal Unit is a Superhero (Supershero?). She’s always got my back. In the middle of a road trip, or in the middle of the night, she’s always there when I have an issue. For all 21 years of this disease, she’s been a rock. I would like to give her a break. She’s earned it after all these years. I don’t want her to worry about me anymore. Without me asking.

The Live-In Niece has been terrific. I’m the first, the only, diabetic she’s ever known. Or known about. She knows nothing of hypoglycemia or ketoacidosis. But she asks a lot of questions. And she never makes me feel bad for being a pain in the ass because I had a low or I’m mad at the diabetes today. Without me asking.

Prior to the Live-In Niece was the Live-In Nephew. My Godson. Probably the relative I’m closest to. And diabetes freaks him out. But when he was confronted by something that freaked him out, he was able to help me. Without me asking.

I’ve had a couple of crappy doctors over the years. But I’ve had a couple of super ones too. That’s you, Dr. Mowry in Cincinnati, who originally diagnosed me after two doctors couldn’t be bothered to take the time; and you, Dr. Pao in Baltimore, who speaks my language and gets me thinking about adjustments to make things better, instead of always staying the same with lesser results. Thank you, thank you.

Thank you Diabetes Online Community. For the first time in I don’t know how long, I feel validated. Can’t tell you how much it meant to find out that others have the same experiences, the same hurdles, the same highs and lows. I not only feel validated… I feel more confident that I can live in this world. That I belong in this world.

Where would I be without JDRF and ADA? Your advocacy has brought us countless advances in care, support, and on, and on, and on. It’s easy to take you for granted. But these two groups are full of thousands of Superheros.

And what about the companies that have developed technology or drugs to help us continue to live a life that means something? Medtronic, Animas, Dexcom, Novo Nordisk, Aventis. That’s right.. I’m givin’ props to you, big Pharma. I’ve made it as far as I have in part thanks to you.

There are many Superheros in my diabetic life (Diaheros?) But I would like to retire all of you. I hope that soon, very soon, you can find the time to focus on someone else. Another cause. Or maybe a vacation. In the meantime, thank you sooooo much for being my Superheros.

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Like these links.

April 25, 2012 – 12:17 pm

Happy Wednesday! Here are some interesting posts that spoke to me in the past few days:

Kim at Texting my Pancreas celebrated her diaversary this week. And she has her hospital records from back then. More profound today than they were 26 years ago?
http://www.textingmypancreas.com/2012/04/twenty-six.html

Like searching for the happy medium, Karen at Bitter~Sweet is Striving for Level after a lot of upheaval. She reminds us all that “not trying is not an option“:
http://www.bittersweetdiabetes.com/2012/04/striving-for-level.html

Scott Johnson at Scott’s Diabetes has great information that reminds us that the best patients are also their own advocates. Be an empowered patient:
http://scottsdiabetes.com/2012/04/questions-answer/

Enjoy!

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