Whether your meter uses "E", "ER", or another way of designating an error, we've all run into those days where it seems like we waste a whole vial, drum, or disc of strips (and lancets, if you use the Renew device!) just to get that magical number. By the time you get that "beep", you're certain you're reading fifty points off one way or the other, just due to the stress of getting the bloody lancet to produce a bloody large-enough blood drop that beads up on -- rather than wets -- the surrounding skin, and the bloody strip to take up enough of that blood to produce a bloody glucose reading.

(And yes, "bloody" is meant both as description and expletive.)

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I never meant to take a six-week vacation. It started with the intention of just a few days off. A rest. A break from diabetes and all things that go along with it. Testing, tracking, carb counting and, most obviously to dLife, blogging.

I just needed a few days off. It started around Memorial Day, and here it is the middle of summer and I am completely off track.

So, as of today, as of this moment, I am back.

Although I didn't take my fasting blood sugar this morning, or my medicine at dinner last night, at 9:30 a.m., I will take my two-hour post-breakfast reading. And write it down. On an official form. That I will show my doctor. When I get around to making that July appointment.

Yup, diabetes, I'm back.

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michalmucha

I get frustrated every day. Diabetes is making me feel like I am semi-losing my mind. I literally have to ask myself everyday, "Am I losing it"? To be honest with you it is scaring me a little. My sugars are all over place. Is this blood sugar roller coaster "normal" for those people out there who are doing "good" with diabetes?

I would like to pose a question to you if you're reading this right now and you are a person with type 1 diabetes and take daily insulin injections. If you have an A1C of 6 or lower, how often are your sugars in the 200's... if ever?
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I haven't changed the lancet in my "finger sticker" for a couple days now. Surely I am not the only one around that does that!??. I changed it because I visited a friend this past weekend and, "he wanted to see what his blood sugar was." I know I am not the only one around that has gotten that request. Curious "non-diabetic" pals or acquaintances always want to, "see what it says for them". And then I give the explanation about what a "normal" range is and what the number that is displayed on the meter "means". It is all fine and dandy though. I kind of like taking the "teacher" role when this situation arises. It provides me the opportunity for one-on-one, and maybe even sometimes group presentations on diabetes. Maybe we could just call this "Diabetes 101". Diabetics around the world could start charging tuition for quick, on the spot, diabetes education classes! How does 5 dollars per person sound? (READ MORE)

I can't believe I'm actually going to say this, but here goes. I'm sort of looking forward to my next A1C test. I know. I know. I'm a nut, but I have good reason to believe that the next one will be lower than the last one, which was (*blush*) 9%.

I decided to torture myself the other day by looking at my meter average. In the past when I've done this, a little calculation will show me that the average number of times I was testing per day was about one or two. The other day after a little calculation I found that my average number of per-day tests was four. I was incredibly happy with this because it meant that I am actually paying more attention to what is going on with me. Now, I know that I'm still slacking in some areas, but an average of four test per day is way better than one or two. Even for a type 2.

There's more. (READ MORE)

As we prepare for the upcoming JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes, I'm reminded of a conversation I had with Charlie when he was 3, just prior to our second walk.

"We walk and we raise money so that there can be a cure for diabetes," I explained to him. He looked at me blankly, clearly confused.

"Can you buy me something at Toys 'R Us with the money?"

"No. The money is for a cure."

"What's a cure?" he asked.

"We raise money so that maybe someday the doctors will be able to take diabetes away. Maybe someday you won't have diabetes anymore. That would mean no shots and no more testing your blood sugar."

I thought my little pep talk would make Charlie excited and hopeful. Instead, a wave of panic washed over him. Not the reaction I was expecting.

He got very upset at the thought of no longer having diabetes and even cried when I suggested he wouldn't have to test his blood sugar if there was a cure.

"Keep testing!," he sobbed. (READ MORE)