Here I sit wearily, just my favorite meter and me.
Staring at a blood sugar of two hundred and thirty three.

I was happily rolling smooth, and on track all day today.
But now am confusedly flustered and in the grips of dismay.

How did my glucose get to be so darn high?

I know my tubeless pump is secured firmly to my thigh.

It wasn't the early lunch of carb free salad with chicken.
Guess I should have just had water or stuck to lime wedge lickin'.

Time to punch in a bolus and get some more insulin to flow.

Oh hell, I don't have my pump's controller- where oh where did it go!?

It is not in my bag, there's no bulge in my front pant pocket, (READ MORE)

I got laid off last week.

I got a call from my (now former) boss, whom I love, care, and have deep respect for very much, on Tuesday. Her mood and energy were off. I could tell she was under a lot of (mind-made) stress. I was told that I would need to call in for a phone meeting with some of the higher-ups and board members in the organization. My mind and thoughts began to wonder, like everyone's does, when you get that feeling
inside. That feeling where you just KNOW something is off.

  (READ MORE)

Dave Ward Photography

It's very rare that I miss a day of work. VERY rare. I've called in sick only a handful of times in the last four years of my working life. I typically am a "bite the bullet" kind of girl and work at least a few hours when I'm feeling ill. So when I do call in sick, I'm usually very sick.

  (READ MORE)

I’m going back to New York City this week for a meeting with my JDRF co-workers. I will be there, at the National Office on Wall Street, for Thursday and Friday. I always enjoy going to NYC. NYC is all that people say it is and more. It is, from what I’ve gathered and experienced, an unbelievable experience for any human being.

One of the reasons why I am so blown away by NYC is that it is COMPLETELY opposite of what my regular lifestyle and routine represent here at home.
(READ MORE)

When to tell?

I have accepted a new job. It's in a new city (half way across the country!!). It's with new people. New people who don't know that I have diabetes.

It was during my four-year tenure at my current job that I was diagnosed. I had no problem telling just about everyone in my very small office about diabetes. I already knew them and their personalities.

It's different now. I have a problem with going in to the boss on my first day and saying, "Hey, guess what..." I also have a problem with waiting three months until my benefits kick in, or even longer when someone sees me checking my sugar (or doesn't know what to do if I pass out) to say, "Oh, yeah, maybe I should have told you sooner."

  (READ MORE)

donmimi83 ( away )

A topic came up on one of the diabetesteentalk forums which got me thinking. The topic was about how diabetics miss days from school or work because of doctor's appointments, seizures or ketones. There were alternating perspectives. Some chose to think that if you miss for diabetes related events, you should be excused or allowed time off without feeling guilty. Others chose to think that you have to suffer through at work or school and should not miss because of diabetes. After all, it is a self managed disease. (READ MORE)