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Month: March 2012

16 Successful Dexcom Days Finally Ended

Chris Stocker

My 16 day adventure with Mr. Dexcom has finally ended. Actually it ended last night. It ended on my choice as well, not on Dexcom’s. Last night, the 16th straight day of the same sensor working flawlessly, I decided to go for a swim and get a little workout. My back was beginning to hurt again, so all I wanted to do was just lay in the bath tub and relax for a little bit. I noticed that the Dex was losing its stickiness and with a hot bath, it would most likely come off soon. So, I decided to just remove the Dexcom sensor.

As soon as I did it, I regretted it. I realized that I was only about 3 hours away from my first no-hitter. That really pissed me off. Then, I also realized that I was freaking out because I didn’t know what my blood sugar was just by looking at the Dexcom. My blood sugars were by no means perfect, but overall, in those 16 days, they were a lot better than what they are in a 16 day period without the Dexcom.

When I first got the Dexcom last December, I wore it for 4 days right away and I loved it, but I didn’t put a new sensor in until almost 2-3 weeks later. After that sensor it was almost a month until the next one. Tonight, I realized that I can’t live without it, well, I could technically, but I don’t want to. I want to have a CGM on at all times. First thing I did this morning was put on a new sensor.

I didn’t put a new one on last night because I knew I was having pasta for dinner and that my blood sugar would most likely go high. I didn’t want to insert a sensor with a BG that would be at about 300 when I inserted and would drop to about 120 before bed, too much funkiness for it to handle.

Now, the only difficult part? Downloading all the graphs. Dexcom, can you please just make a Mac compatible software? I have a virtual machine on my Mac, but I use it…maybe once every 6 months, and that’s being nice. And one of the reasons I don’t use a PC anymore, every time I log on to it, there’s about 50 security updates and it takes 3 hours just to load them all and it’s not worth it to me. Why must companies force me to live in a PC world?

One thing is for sure though, I love my Dexcom!

Diabetes Disclosure – DSMA Blog Carnival for March

Chris Stocker 2 Comments

This is the first DSMA Blog Carnival that I have done. My blogging has been slacking recently, so what better way to spark it than with a DSMA related post.

Disclosure of diabetes to me is simple. It tends to come up every time that I speak to somebody, really no matter what. So, let’s first start with the employer. I am my own employer, so yes, I definitely know. It tends to come up in a lot of business conversations as well. I do online marketing for a living, so I am constantly referring to the DOC when I talk about social media and blogging. So, the diabetes comes up just that easily.

Previously, when I was not my own employer, my co-workers knew. I told my closest co-workers that I have diabetes right away in case there was some sort of emergency, I wanted them to have some what of a clue what to do. Other co-workers found out just by conversation or by them asking what the funny thing on my hip was. There were a lot of Diabetes Police at my former co-workers office, so I took as many chances as I could to get some education in.

When I was in college, about 3-4 years ago, not many people knew I was diabetic. In fact, almost zero people knew. The only people that usually knew were the professors. I would make sure that I told the professor on the first night of class and then follow it up with an e-mail, that I had diabetes. If the professor heard a beeping noise, or I suddenly had to get up in a middle of a test because my blood sugar was 50 and dropping, they would know. By the way, if you are in college and have diabetes, I highly recommend not letting your blood sugar go low during a test, teachers are very funny about that kind of stuff.

I was not very talkative while I was in college. My first college that I attended, I talked to everybody. I was on the football team, it was a small school, and I saw the same people everyday. However, I finished school at Florida Atlantic University. I was diagnosed only a year and a half earlier, and I moved to Florida all by myself, not a single friend or family in the area. I was a little shy. I made sure to tell my roommate and my other suite mates, but that was about it. I started working very early in my college career, so I was all about going to class, going to work, studying, wake up and do the same thing all over. College was business to me, and I didn’t take much time to talk to people, so diabetes never came up. Sorry that this went off on a tangent about my social life in college. Moving on.

I don’t think I have a friend that doesn’t know that I’m diabetic. If they are my friend, they know. Just that simple.

I have never been one to hide my diabetes or withhold it on purpose. If it comes up, I tell people. I can remember going on a job interview to be a bartender and the topic never came up, so I didn’t mention it. My first day on the job, I let everybody know because I felt it was important for them to know in case of an emergency, or in case they saw me chugging the OJ! Another interview that I went on, I told them straight out. It was for a digital marketing company, so I figured that my experience with blogging and social media was a positive for me, so I brought diabetes up. Got the job and diabetes was never an issue.

Well, that is my take on diabetes and disclosure of it. I don’t recommend that you tell people or that you shouldn’t tell people. It is a personal decision and I respect it either way. This is your disease. We share characteristics of a disease, but diabetes is different for every single one of us. However you want to deal with it, is totally up to you.

Happy DSMA Blog Carnival.

Diabetes Research Institute and Anti-Rejection Drug Study

Chris Stocker 1 Comment

Last year I took my first visit to the Diabetes Research Institute. I have talked about it before, but after leaving there, I felt more confident that a cure was in the future, not near future, but in the future. I have also voiced my opinions about there never being a cure because of the financial reasons behind finding a cure. But today, I want to talk about another step in the right direction of that cure from the DRI. Please note, I am by no means a scientific kind of guy, nor do I play one on tv. When I talk about diabetes research and stem cells and this and that, I try to make it as simple as possible without big words because that’s the only way that I understand it.

If you want the scientific explanation, you can read the DRI’s press release.

When I visited the DRI facility in Miami, one of the main things that I learned about and thought was the most fascinating was the fact that our body rejects so much stuff and that even if you receive some sort of islet transplant, your body just wants to destroy it as soon as possible. That is where the immunosuppressive therapy comes into play. Basically, they are drugs that you take to keep your body from attacking the new transplant. These drugs also have some serious side effects and can cause some pretty big damages, such as kidney failure.

I remember the DRI researchers talking about how they are looking for better ways to keep the body from attacking it’s new transplant, without the intense drug therapy. In this recent study, the DRI shows that stem-cells can replace those anti-rejection drugs.

I don’t want to do the DRI and the Cure Alliance or you all any injustice, so I recommend that you read the press release from the DRI to learn more about the study and mesenchymal stem cells.

To me, the best part of this study is that it was performed on humans! Not mice, humans! The study was performed on people with end-stage renal disease. I love that mice are cured of diabetes, but I’d rather hear more about studies that are making headway in the fight against diabetes in humans. This is one of those studies.

I am privileged to have the Diabetes Research Institute right here in my backyard, well not literally my backyard, but that would be pretty damn cool. I strongly encourage anybody who visits the south Florida area to make a trip to the DRI. Heck, even if you’re going to Disney to Orlando, plan a day trip. It’s about a 4 hour drive from Disney, but it would be well worth it.

Also, if you do decide, let me know and we can schedule a D-Meetup.

Take care and keep the hope alive.

New Dexcom Milestone

Chris Stocker 2 Comments

Yesterday I reached a new Dexcom milestone since I first began using the Dexcom last year.  I have only worn the Dexcom six times since December, so I have not been very good about it, but it was one of my 2012 goals that I wanted to begin wearing it more often.  Why? Because my blood sugars are incredibly better while wearing one, I think just about everybody can say that who has had the priveledge of using one.

The milestone that I just reached is actually getting a full seven days out of the sensor.  The previous times that I have worn a sensor, it is either fell off or there were some sort of errors with the sensor.  I finally reached that seven days and it was such a relief.  The only part that sucked about that was that I was about 2 hours away from a no-hitter, my first 24 hour no-hitter!  And then I had to restart the sensor, so there was two hours without a reading.  Once the sensor was ready for the two blood sugar tests my sugar had gone higher than my high limit, so there went my no-hitter.

When I first started using the Dexcom, I set my high mark at 200.  I went above 200 a lot when I am not wearing the Dexcom, so I figured it would be a good place to start it at.  After a while, I then moved the high alert down to 180.  I figured, if I’m going to be using this device, I might as well get the most out of it and try and get my blood sugars within that exact range that I want.  I am going to keep the high alert at 180 for now, because I am fine if my blood sugar hits the 180 mark, I can bring it down pretty easily.

It feels great when you actually reach a goal and milestone that you have set out for yourself.  Some goals seem easy to accomplish, but in reality they are not.  Confidence boosters are always good.

So keep your head up if you are failing at your goals.  Keeping working hard and success will come.

Walgreens and Diabetes Research Institute

Chris Stocker 1 Comment

I have not really dealt with Walgreens too much when it comes to diabetes supplies.  I’ve had some rough times with their largest competitor, which has led me to never shop there again.  Well, here’s another reason why I shop at Walgreen’s now.

In south Florida, which goes from Port St. Lucie to Key West, you can purchase a $1, $5, or $10 scannable during the month of March and write your name on it.

DRI - Walgreens Scannable
*courtesy of the DRI

There is also a can jar that is in some Walgreens locations as well.  This can jar is perfect for your left over change from your purchase (for those that use cash).

To learn more about this south Florida Walgreens and Diabetes Research Institute fundraising program check out the full information with the link just above.

Bumpy Start to Month of March

Chris Stocker 1 Comment

The month of March has not been the best start of a month for blood sugar levels.  I have hit 300 every day so far this month.  Not just once a day, but for a few hours every day.  Morning blood sugars have been around 250-300 and when that happens it pretty much just screws up everything.  Dinners have not been anything out of the ordinary, and neither has breakfast or lunch.  I’ve just been in a diabetes rut, if you will, for a few weeks. I can’t seem to get myself out of it.

A couple of weeks ago, I tweaked a lower back injury that I had back in college and it has pretty much shut me down exercise-wise for about 2-3 weeks.  I have not been able to ride my exercise bike, go for a run, or really do anything in that time frame, so it’s been really screwing up my diet and weight loss plan.  I have a pool in our community, but I have not been utilizing that, I think it is time.

I have a doctors appointment in 2 weeks and my doctor said she would have liked me to lose some weight before that next appointment, and I don’t think that I am going to hit the goal that we had set for myself.

Well, this is just another day, week, month of my life with diabetes.

Take care ya’ll

Guest Post – Definitely Not Your Normal First Year of College

Chris Stocker

Today I have decided to share a guest post with everybody.  About a year ago, I received a message from my blog from a girl who was just recently diagnosed with diabetes in college.  I asked her recently to write a guest post about her first year of college, and just like the title says, it’s not a normal first year.  The reason why this story touches me is because I went through basically the same exact stuff my first year of college.  Well, enough of me talking, here is Lauren Kaphengst – @LaurenKaphengst .  Hope you all enjoy and feel free to leave her comments.

Definitely Not Your Normal First Year of College

My first semester at Grand Valley State University was much like that of any other college freshman.  I had no shortage of friends with incredible people in my dorm and joining Sigma Kappa Sorority.  However, by the end of Christmas break, I had lost a total of 30 pounds.  My mother thought I was just walking more around campus and eating different food now that I was away from home.  My friends, however, thought I was bulimic (they didn’t tell me until months later).  I had all the usual symptoms we all now know about, but I just thought, hey I’m busy so of course I’m tired, thirsty, ect., you know, the usual.

February 4th, 2011, I had a routine checkup with the clinic on campus (that I almost cancelled because who really wants to walk 25 minutes in the frozen tundra that is West Michigan). Later that night was President’s Ball, so I just wanted to do my hair, put on my new dress, and party with thousands of other students from my university.  The Physician’s Assistant who was seeing me, after some normal tests, told me my urinalysis was positive for glucose.  Alone in the Campus Health clinic at the age of 19, I was told I might have diabetes.  After a blood test and many tearful phone calls, I learned later that day my A1C was 13.7 and I was in fact diabetic.  The PA gave me prescriptions for Metformin and a glucometer and sent me on my way.

I still went to President’s Ball that night.  My frantic mother drove the 3 hours the next morning to come get me, and I convinced her that I did not need to go to the hospital, despite her persistence.  I met with an endocrinologist three days later, on a Monday that I would have normally had Anatomy, Psychology, and Biochemistry lectures.  She told me that I have Type 1 Diabetes and I was immediately put on insulin, and to throw away the useless pills from the PA.  After more tears, especially during the first few shots and finger pokes, I was back at school as if nothing had ever happened.

When I was first diagnosed I thought diabetes was going to rule my life, and it did for a while.  I didn’t go out, drink like many of my friends, or even exercise because it was just too hard.  I put on a courageous mask, told my friends no, I am not bulimic, and tried to pretend I didn’t hate my life. Every finger poke was a challenge, my best friend would threaten to check my blood sugar for me when I reached the 5 minute mark and still hadn’t released the lancet. And the insulin pens and needles, I was definitely not their biggest fan. Eventually I came to a wonderful realization, I had an incredible group of people supporting me and slowly, I got through it.

This has been the craziest year of my life.  I am now living in the sorority house, ready to start the nursing program in August, and I actually go out on the weekends.  In my other life, my A1C is 7.0, I’ve been on the Medtronic insulin pump since July (which is incredible and everyone should get one!), and I have yet to be hospitalized.  It is a difficult life to adapt to; the ‘so, why do you have a beeper?’ questions or watching people almost pass out when you start to check your blood sugar (really its only a drop, come on).  Now, hiding my pump while wearing a dress on Saturday night, carb counting, and explaining my life to those who just don’t get it, are second nature.

I am a Sophomore Nursing Major at GVSU, a member of Sigma Kappa Sorority, Vice President of Fundraising for Rock Against Rape, Vice President of G.A.M.M.A. (Greeks Advocating the Mature Management of Alcohol), and a Type 1 Diabetic.  I know my life will never be “normal,” I will always have that last aspect that labels me, but now after one year, I’m okay with that.

Achieving Failure Diabetes Style

Chris Stocker

Have you ever heard the phrase, “Achieving Failure”?  I know, it sounds weird.  The phrase can mean something different to everybody, but I am going to talk about what it means to me and how I feel about it.  To me, it is very simple.  When you set yourself up for failure, you are making it so much easier to achieve that failure.  So it seems that the easy solution is to just not set yourself up for failure right?  Sounds pretty easy, but it’s not.  I’ve come up with a few ways that I have achieved failure with my diabetes and if I could just listen to my own advice, I think I can change that failure into a success.

Achieving High Blood Sugars

Of course this is something that you don’t want to “achieve”, but you don’t want to achieve any failures.  I have been able to achieve this failure because, like I said, I set myself up for it.  Deciding to eat fast food that is extremely high in fat and having a lot of carbs in it, not testing my sugar before I eat, not testing sugar after I eat, and not exercising.  These all lead up to disaster blood sugar levels.  So how do I set myself up for more success than failure with blood sugar levels?  I think this is pretty easy, wear my Dexcom at all times.  Of course changing the eating habits are going to help as well, but if I’m wearing the Dexcom, I can at least see the high blood sugars coming before they get too high.

Achieving Weight Gain

A lot of the same issues that go into the high blood sugars also affect the weight gain.  The Dexcom is not going to help me with the weight gain, but cutting out the fatty foods and exercising more will help with the weight gain. So how am I able to st myself up for a more successful life and have better success at losing weight?  Buying only healthy food and only having healthy food in my house.  That currently is the case, but I still find ways to get unhealthy food into my system.  So the next step is more will power, mental toughness if you will.  Even if I don’t feel like eating what’s in the house, tough luck, I need to eat it.  Giving myself a better opportunity to achieve success is what it is all about.

Achieving Unproductivity

I think that just about everyone has achieved this failure multiple times in their life.  The unproductiveness that I am speaking about here is keeping up to date with the blog and interacting with other blogs and just keeping myself updated on what is going on in everyone’s life.  This happens because I set myself up for it by not always putting dedicated time to the side for it.  I run a business as well, so that takes up a lot more of my time than it once did, but it also provides me a lot more time (does that make sense?)  Being productive within that time is the only way that I can continue to achieve success.

Achieving failure is typically a lot easier than achieving success.  However, after reaching those failures, it is easier to reach the success afterwards, as long as you make the necessary changes.  Well, I wish the best of success achievements to everybody out there.  If you hit a failure, do not let it stop you.  Learn from it, make changes, and turn it into a success.