A rain out are you serious?  I can’t believe this.  Philly has been waiting over a decade to win a championship and they have to postpone it another freaking night!  And now, it feels like the Ray’s have a lot of momentum going into tonight’s game since our amazing pitcher is now out and they scored the last run of the night.  But, my blood sugar didn’t go above 150 last night during the game, amazing huh!

It was 113 when I went to sleep, but after I had coffee and breakfast this morning and took some insulin, I tested an hour later and I was 227.  I didn’t have a meter handy right before I ate, so I kind of “guestimated!”  But I’m all good now.  I am going on a cruise this Friday, so I am getting prepared for that.  I know, I never told anybody about the cruise yet in here, but I don’t think many care anyway, ha!

I just received my new insurance card and everything today, so time for me to do some research on a new endo!

I had a huge diabetic halloween party scare this past Saturday, and not scare as in somebody’s mask.  Let me build up to the scary part first.  After debating between the Joker and Indiana Jones I decided to go with Chase Utley (Phillies 2nd baseman for those that don’t know).  So throughout the night I was cheering on my Phillies and it was a very close game.  In about the 7-8 inning, I started to feel my sugar getting extremely low.  I tested, and it was at about 35.  I just started eating a mass amount of food, whatever I could get my hands on.  There was chips, chocolate candy, candy corn, a lot of different things.

The party was a great party, especially since the Phillies won in the bottom of the 9th on a great hit by Carlos Ruiz.  I was even happier because I actually tested my blood sugar out at a Halloween party.  I’ve been testing a lot more because I have a couple meters in different places.  As I am typing right now, I know my numbers are a little high because I have to go home from work in order to change my infusion set.  My insertor at work broke, and I brought the wrong prep pads.  I grabbed a regular antiseptic that I use when I have to use my insulin pen, which I can’t use now because I don’t have another pen needle!  Time to re-up my supplies at my office desk!

Phillies one game away from a World Series Championship!

This past Saturday was our local ADA walk.  It was down where the Panthers play their home games, and they just so happened to have a  home game on Saturday too.  So I was faced with a dilemna, do I stay down there from 11 a.m. until 7 when the game starts and go over the Sawgrass Mall.  Or do I go home and then come back down for the game?  Or, do I just not go to the game at all?

The Panthers were having an open practice so I went in and watched it for a while.  As I was leaving I stopped at a table to pick up a schedule and a sales rep came over and gave me free tickets 9 rows behind the glass, so I couldn’t beat that.  We stopped over at the Sawgrass and decided we needed to go home and take a nap.  So that was the decision, drive home and then drive right back down.  After a fantastic game and talking with the sales rep, I received an early birthday present, season tickets to the Panthers!

Now, relating this all to my diabetes.  If I hadn’t of had diabetes, I would not have been at the walk, so I wouldn’t have gone to the open practice, nor received the free tickets.  If I didn’t receive the free tickets, I wouldn’t have met the sales rep, who would not have sold me season tickets, so I would have never became a season ticket holder.  So, thanks to my diabetes, I now get my name engraved into a seat at the Bank Atlantic Center.

Isn’t diabetes great!

This Saturday is our local ADA Step Out event.  So I will be there bright and early to get out there and walk around the Bank Atlantic Center, which I will also be there tomorrow night for the Panthers game!  I haven’t raised as much money this year as my goal was.  I wanted to try and reach the $2,000 mark, but only made it to $1,500.  Every extra dollar counts.  I love all the free goodies at these events too, makes me happy.

I ususally participate in 2 of the 3 area walks, but I was unable to do it this year, and could only do one, but it’s all good.

I haven’t been sleeping a lot lately.  I’ve been going through one of my insomniac times where I am up majority of the night, but I am being very productive and not just laying around in bed tossing and turning.  I’ve been doing a lot of reading and finally catching up on all the magazine subscriptions that I have been slacking on and months behind on.  Well I must be getting back to the Life of a Diabetic!

What a weekend this was.  It was filled with football, baseball, hockey, lancing devices, test strips, infusion sets, spilled insulin, high blood sugars, low blood sugars, alcohol, grilling, pasta….ohhh the life of a diabetic sports fan!

I had a goal of testing after every single quarter of every single game that I was watching, and I did!  The numbers were high for a while, which I don’t know why, but I was able to bring them back down.  However, the UF-LSU game is the reason I think they were sky high.  My roomate is a Gators fan, and I hate the Gators, so that is why I was irritated.  Yesterday was good for the Eagles, but not so good for the Phillies.

On to other things, I should know sometime this week a little more about my insurance coverage and what my next steps are going to be.  I would like to get on the CGMS, but who knows what is going to go on with that.  I don’t really mind testing my sugar, it is just that I usually forget to test, not that I don’t want to.

For the first time since I have been diabetic, the Phillies are in the NLCS. So, now that I have to be worried about my Eagles, since Westbrook has a few broken ribs, I now have to get nervous over the Phillies too. Plus hockey season is starting up. Sorry Philly fans, I am not a Flyers fan, I have been taken over by the local squad, the Florida Panthers. They have a home opener this weekend, but I can’t go because I have to watch the LSU Tigers romp the Florida Gators. That should be a great game.

Anyway, on to the diabetes. My sugars have been pretty good again today, 1 high but thats it. Also, good news, my certificate of credible coverage came in the mail yesterday, so now I have everything that I would need in order to get coverage again, hopefully. We will see, and I will keep you all updated on that.

Gotta Run!

I think I have tested more in the last 3-4 days, than I ever had in any 3-4 day period before….and I LOVE it.  Even though it is expensive to test, I feel a lot more comfortable in knowing every 60 minutes what my sugar level is.  I am not on a CGMS yet, so this is the best way for me to know constantly what my levels are.  It’s also helping me cure those times that I seem to always have a high, wacky number.  I have increased my basal rate for when I am sleeping and so far it has been doing better.

On another note, I get a phone call from my soon to be 8 year old niece telling me about this person she colored and his name is flat Stanley and she has to send it to me and I have to take pictures with it and keep a journal and it is all being graded for her.  Yes, I was just as lost as  you all were right now.  She was explaining to me that a chalkboard fell on top of him, that is why he is flat.  Well, I guess it is a book that they are reading in their 3rd grade class and this is their class project.  So, Flat Stanley went from cold Pennsylvania winter to going to the beach with me this weekend.

I thought this whole chalkboard thing was my niece’s imagination, and it scared me a little that her imagination was that vivid!  But I come to find out that it was the author’s creation.  So the point of this is – Stanley is getting to go on a trip to Florida, however, he will also learn about Diabetes, and what he needs to do in case of an emergency, and I think this will be a great opportunity to teach the kids in the classroom a little about diabetes also!

Last Saturday the American Diabetes Wholesale team participated in the 2nd Annual Feria de Salud Por Tu Familia at Tropical Park. This was a great event during Hispanic Heritage Month hosted by the South Florida American Diabetes Association. Several thousand local residents came out to Feria de Salud to help fight against diabetes in Miami’s neighborhoods that are most affected by diabetes.

Here are a few key stats on diabetes within the Hispanic community from the ADA:

* The prevalence of diabetes is 1.7 times higher in Hispanics than Non-Hispanic Whites
* 61% of the population is Hispanic in Miami-Dade County (19% in Florida and 7% in the United States)
* 8.6% Hispanics have been diagnosed with diabetes in Miami-Dade County
* 2.5 million or 9.5% of all Hispanic Americans aged twenty years or older have diabetes
* An estimated 16% of Cubans in the United States between the ages of 45 and 74 have diabetes
* Approximately 24% of Mexican Americans and 26% of Puerto Ricans in the United States between the ages of 45 and 74 have diabetes
* Estimated that by 2020, 44% of Hispanics over the age of 65 will have diabetes

ADW enjoy this great diabetes event and all the activities that were available for the families for everyone. The atmosphere included live music, dancing, nutritional information, cooking demonstrations, face painting for the kids, and much more….

Some photos of the event including our booth and banner on the performance stage.

This week’s newsletter features a great article by cookbook author and diabetes nutrition expert, Marlene Koch, titled “Game Day Snacks – Fumble or Score?” It’s a timely article as the exciting sports seasons are getting underway, and many friends gather around the big screens to cheer their favorite teams on! Although these are great ways to spend time with friends and family, they often present a challenge to those who need to watch the types of foods they eat, especially people with diabetes. Marlene gives some great tips on how to manage healthy snacking, and even bringing your own gameday snacks that are sure to please the crowd (and keep you worry-free!)

Marlene also gives us two super recipes for these events! Mix up the spiciness of Buffalo Chicken Strips with the cool creamy taste of Bleu Cheese Dip, or maybe serve up a crunchy vegetable tray with Classic Spinach Dip!

In the spirit of the festive season, American Diabetes Wholesale is proud to bring you a special sweet ‘n spooky treat for your favorite trick or treater – the Halloween Tricks ‘n Treats Gift Basket! Loaded with sugar free goodies like Go-Lightly candies and Jelly Belly Sugar-Free Jelly Beans, it’s a great way to celebrate the fun of autumn in a healthy way!

Check out the entire newsletter here!

Do you have a diabetes educator that has made a great impact in your life? Diabetes Educators are the people that we turn to whenever a question arises that may not have a clear answer. This week’s newsletter is aimed at giving thanks to all of the educators that have inspired their patients to better control diabetes and live a healthy life.

Nominate your educator and they may have a chance to win a trip to sunny South Florida! They will have a 3 day / 2 night stay in the luxurious Boca Resort. Nominate your educator today!

This week’s product spotlight focuses on our top diabetes books. Want to learn more about diabetes? If so Diabetes for Dummies is the perfect book for you. This is a great book for people that have been recently diagnosed with diabetes. Diabetes Self Management Magazine a wonderful source for the most up-to-date news on diabetes. This magazine is sent bi-monthly to subscribers. Read about all of our popular diabetes books.

This week’s recipe will be sure to cause your mouth to water in anticipation! Learn how to make Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Muffins, a treat that the whole family will enjoy. This recipe has 238 calories and 30 grams of carbs per serving. Learn how to make this week’s recipe!

Read the entire newsletter…