One thing about diabetes that can be particularly frustrating is not knowing how our body will react to stress. I've had just as many highs from stress as I have had unexpected lows.

Strangely, I think I more often go lowish from certain kinds of stress. Namely medical stress. Just over a year ago, for example, I had to have an MRI on my hip with contrasting dye and it was really an experience I was not prepared for. Sitting in the waiting area before the procedure I was high. During the part where the doctor injected the dye into my hip, I felt myself going low and thought I was going to pass out.

And then there was the minor hand surgery I had two and a half years ago where my sugar stayed low all morning until my mid-day surgery.

So I'm planning to carb load on Friday when I'm scheduled to have a doctor stick a needle in my neck repeatedly. I'll be undergoing a needle biopsy on a thyroid nodule I have that's about the size of a quarter. I'm not freaked, so I hope none of you freak either.

I feel fortunate that, in terms of blood sugar management, I'll be at my endo's office and the director of the practice will be performing the procedure. So if there are any blood sugar issues, I'll be with people who understand.

I like to say that I'm tough when it comes to this stuff, and I probably am because I don't put up a fight, but in reality getting needles stuck in your hip or your back (epidural) or your neck hurts! It's not a pleasant experience and my body reacts to that. I expect to cry and I expect to go low or at least feel like I'm low.

I also expect my insulin requirements to be completely out of whack on Friday. I'll probably aim for a blood sugar over 180 just prior to the procedure. I've been told it will only take about 30 minutes, so I won't be out of range for too long. And then I expect to continue to be out of sorts for the rest of the day. *sigh*