I own a Medtronic Minimed pump and they automatically ship me my supplies and charge it to my account, which I pay weekly. Insurance doesn’t pay for much, and I pay what I can on a weekly basis. It’s not cheap and my bill is $1475. Mostly because they ship them whenever they want, I have extra supplies for that reason, and I’ve never called to “cancel” my automatic shipments. My fault, I know.
The other day, I got a phone call saying there was a credit block on my shipment, so I called and dealt with the rudest person imaginable. Naturally, I didn’t do much but get mad, tell him he doesn’t have to be so rude and forget it I’m not going to work anything out with him, and I hung up. I pay them $25 a week and he asked if I’d set up a payment plan. Well, I’ve been paying $25 a week for the past four years (I didn’t tell him this, though I should have) and no one has ever tried to set up a payment plan with me, I just send them money and get bills whenever (and the bills are never the same, sometimes I get two separate ones, now how am I supposed to differentiate those?)
I am NOT trying to get away from paying. I would never do that, but these people treat me like I am and it infuriates me.
Did hanging up make me feel better? No, but customer service sucks and I’m getting tired of it. You go to the grocery store, people are rude. Does anyone ask if you need help carrying out your groceries anymore? Most of the time they don’t even say “hi, how are you today? Did you find everything you needed?” At least not in my town.
We treat others like they are a problem, like they are in the way. No wonder we’re at war. No wonder people are killing each other in schools.
Okay, that was harsh, but seriously, most people never think about anyone other than themselves anymore, IMO. Just because you think I'm a slimeball for not paying my balance in full for insulin supplies so that I can continue to take my insulin so that I can continue to live does not mean you have to treat me like a piece of trash. That, above all else, infuriates me.
Oh, guess what customer service people? When you treat others that way, they aren't usually going to want to pay, or work with you. Call it my "rebellious" nature.
We need to be more altruistic, and altruism is NOT just about money. We can give without giving money. We can give a smile. We can give a hug. We can give a “thank you” and “you’re welcome” and try to spread joy instead of negativity throughout our communities and our nations. Why don’t more people try this? If you smile and they don’t accept that smile, do you snarl and go on? Yes, I have a time or two. I saw a former coworker one day and smiled and said hello, and she didn’t smile or say one word. I knew she recognized me, but I chalked it up to busyness. Weeks or months later it happened again, she walked right by me and looked at me so I know she saw me, but didn’t say a word. I said “never mind if you want to be like that” and turned away from her. I’m pretty sure she stopped a moment. I HOPE she stopped to think about her attitude.
See, I’m not usually like that and I’m not an aggressive person, but I’m getting to be. I’d definitely like to be more so. If people are going to be rude, I’m tired of letting it bother me and letting it slide. We all have our problems and may appear "standoffish" but rudeness is downright wrong!
(These little stresses affect blood sugars and lots of other things, by the way.)
Tomorrow, I’ll try calling Minimed again, and maybe I’ll pour on the sweetness as thick as syrup that it’s so obviously fake (I hate that almost as much as rudeness, LOL). After all, I’ve seen it work for other people, why not me?
Or I could try to write a really nice but really rude letter. I don't know, and I don't know if I care (because not only am I rebellious, I'm a procrastinator and I was good just to make the first phone call. They shouldn't have taken advantage of it and maybe we could have worked something out to their benefit).
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Controlling Sugars
My post today is about controlling sugars and the importance of doing so, but it isn't my eyes, kidneys, nerves, feet or heart I'm going to discuss. It's my mood.
It's so hard to control your mood as it is, even worse when you have diabetes. I used to get so mad at my family, because if I was having a bad day or complained or got angry or upset, it must have been my blood sugar. What am I, a robot? I have emotions, you know.
Now that I am older, I realize, though not at the time, how vital a role blood sugar plays on my emotions or mood. If my sugar gets low, I stay low for long periods, even when my sugar is back up again. It affects my mind state for hours after, and that's a bad thing for a writer. It's important, for my next novel, that I don't let my sugar fluctuate from one end to another. It's important that I eat the right type of nutrients, because it's easy enough to be lazy, tired, and rundown after work when you still have dinner and family to tend to, even more so when your sugar is off. Up and down is not good for anything.
It's so hard to control your mood as it is, even worse when you have diabetes. I used to get so mad at my family, because if I was having a bad day or complained or got angry or upset, it must have been my blood sugar. What am I, a robot? I have emotions, you know.
Now that I am older, I realize, though not at the time, how vital a role blood sugar plays on my emotions or mood. If my sugar gets low, I stay low for long periods, even when my sugar is back up again. It affects my mind state for hours after, and that's a bad thing for a writer. It's important, for my next novel, that I don't let my sugar fluctuate from one end to another. It's important that I eat the right type of nutrients, because it's easy enough to be lazy, tired, and rundown after work when you still have dinner and family to tend to, even more so when your sugar is off. Up and down is not good for anything.
Monday, May 14, 2007
Dr. Appointment
Today was my quarterly doctor's appointment, and I was curious to know how it was going to go because I knew my A1C would be higher than usual. It was 6.5%, which isn't as bad as it could have been but worse than it's been in awhile. So I decided to look back on my records and found most of them going back to 1999. I couldn't find a few years, probably because my doctor didn't give me a print out (the one I'm going to now doesn't give me one). I like to have them, but I write them down when she tells me and I thought I'd just start posting here. It's good to see a trend, and one step forward for my lack of organization.
My doctor appreciated that I was writing my sugars down better, and she told me not to beat myself up over or blame myself (which why not, it is my fault!) She did stress, though, to take care of myself.
Lessons from a diabetic who was diagnosed over 20 years ago...take care of yourself, eat right, exercise,write your sugars down, and see your doctor often. I'm proud to see my A1C levels never going over 7%, and that was even before I wore an insulin pump.
My doctor appreciated that I was writing my sugars down better, and she told me not to beat myself up over or blame myself (which why not, it is my fault!) She did stress, though, to take care of myself.
Lessons from a diabetic who was diagnosed over 20 years ago...take care of yourself, eat right, exercise,write your sugars down, and see your doctor often. I'm proud to see my A1C levels never going over 7%, and that was even before I wore an insulin pump.
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Getting Better
I've been doing a lot better this week. Not perfect, by any means. Some highs and lows. Of course, with better management comes more lows. I just have to carry juice with me at all times and be sure to get my snacks.
Monday, May 7, 2007
My Problems...and the solutions I want to attempt
1. I am a horrible record keeper. I don’t write down my sugars, insulin intake or carbs. I have a pocket PC and I even bought diabetes “check books”, and though I’ve gotten a little better, I still miss hours or days. I had a software program at one time, but it’s not compatible with my newest machine. My Paradigm 515 has its on machine, but my insurance doesn’t pay for those strips.
Solution: Set aside time everyday to jot down sugars.
2. I don’t count carbs. I know how, but I don’t take the time to measure my foods. If it’s prepackaged (like my prepackaged oatmeal and the raisins I add to it), I will do it. Otherwise, I guess a lot. I have a certain glass that I know is a cup without measuring. My dietician told me to make a fist and measure my foods that way (your fist supposedly equals a cup) but I don’t always succeed.
Solution: Measure my foods by using measuring cups.
3. Certain foods affect my sugars and I know this, but I won’t do anything about it. Pasta is hell on my sugars and rice makes it low, no matter what. Pasta will make it high hours later, as does pizza and high flour content food, like chicken pot pie, but I won’t use my extended bolus.
Solution: Learn and utilize every feature of the insulin pump.
4. I overcompensate for low blood sugar and high blood sugar.
Solution: Keep 15 grams of “boxed” juice or glucose tabs on hand at all times. Bolus for any extra food when sugar is high.
5. I take my insulin right when I eat or after I eat. After all, what if I don’t eat everything on my plate?
Solution: Bolus at least fifteen minutes before, even if it’s only half now and the rest after I complete my meal.
6. I have a carb counter, but I never use it.
Solution: Carry my carb book everywhere I go and memorize my favorite foods.
7. I used to get up in the middle of the night to check my sugars, now I don’t.
Solution: Get up a couple of times a week or at least on those nights when I eat something strange.
8. I don’t aggressively manage my disease with my team.
Solution: Be aggressive. This is my life we’re talking about.
9. I don’t commune with other diabetics and believe I’m the only one going through these problems in my area. Support groups are too far away and most diabetics I know are type 2 and just don’t understand.
Solution: Join an online support group and remember my family has always been supportive if I just open up.
10. I resent my disease, yet I act like it doesn’t affect my life. If I’m stressed, it’s because I’m stressed and diabetes has nothing to do with it nor is it affected (that’s my myth, anyway). I don’t talk about my diabetes with anyone because I feel like they don’t care or understand and they darn sure don’t want to hear about my health problems when everything else about me appears normal.
Solution: That’s what this blog is for.
Solution: Set aside time everyday to jot down sugars.
2. I don’t count carbs. I know how, but I don’t take the time to measure my foods. If it’s prepackaged (like my prepackaged oatmeal and the raisins I add to it), I will do it. Otherwise, I guess a lot. I have a certain glass that I know is a cup without measuring. My dietician told me to make a fist and measure my foods that way (your fist supposedly equals a cup) but I don’t always succeed.
Solution: Measure my foods by using measuring cups.
3. Certain foods affect my sugars and I know this, but I won’t do anything about it. Pasta is hell on my sugars and rice makes it low, no matter what. Pasta will make it high hours later, as does pizza and high flour content food, like chicken pot pie, but I won’t use my extended bolus.
Solution: Learn and utilize every feature of the insulin pump.
4. I overcompensate for low blood sugar and high blood sugar.
Solution: Keep 15 grams of “boxed” juice or glucose tabs on hand at all times. Bolus for any extra food when sugar is high.
5. I take my insulin right when I eat or after I eat. After all, what if I don’t eat everything on my plate?
Solution: Bolus at least fifteen minutes before, even if it’s only half now and the rest after I complete my meal.
6. I have a carb counter, but I never use it.
Solution: Carry my carb book everywhere I go and memorize my favorite foods.
7. I used to get up in the middle of the night to check my sugars, now I don’t.
Solution: Get up a couple of times a week or at least on those nights when I eat something strange.
8. I don’t aggressively manage my disease with my team.
Solution: Be aggressive. This is my life we’re talking about.
9. I don’t commune with other diabetics and believe I’m the only one going through these problems in my area. Support groups are too far away and most diabetics I know are type 2 and just don’t understand.
Solution: Join an online support group and remember my family has always been supportive if I just open up.
10. I resent my disease, yet I act like it doesn’t affect my life. If I’m stressed, it’s because I’m stressed and diabetes has nothing to do with it nor is it affected (that’s my myth, anyway). I don’t talk about my diabetes with anyone because I feel like they don’t care or understand and they darn sure don’t want to hear about my health problems when everything else about me appears normal.
Solution: That’s what this blog is for.
Sunday, May 6, 2007
Burn Out
I have been a Type I, insulin-dependent diabetic for twenty-two years and for most of that time, I've done well (enough). No complications, good A1C levels, good weight control. Lately, though, life with diabetes has been a roller-coaster and I am afraid it's going to catch up to me.
That's why I've created this blog. I work full time and pursue writing on the side, so my schedule stays busy (a lot of time spent at the computer). I don't have any weight to lose, but I still consider exercise a very important part of my life. Lately, I've suffered depression and diabetes burn out.
That's right, I'm burned out. I get burned out from exercise, I take a break. I get burned out from work, I take a vacation. I get burned out from my writing, I take a break. Not so with diabetes. I cannot take a vacation from diabetes, it is a part of me, a part of my life, and I cannot ignore it.
I've created this blog to help me journal about things that bother me and to get my blood sugars back on track. I created this blog to reach out to others who may be going through some of the issues I am going through. I created this blog because writing things down helps me to focus on the problem and to get through it, but journaling hasn't done anything for me lately. Blogging about it makes it more "out there", and I'm a pretty private person. I hope blogging about it will make me more aware of what I'm doing and make me fix it.
My blood sugars have been higher than they ever have in my life. I haven't been eating right, so I know that is mostly to blame. I don't have the time or the energy to make a healthy gourmet meal at home. I may throw some chicken in the oven and eat whatever else I have. I may have a glass of wine or a beer at night after a hard day of work. And my exercise program is suffering.
I know a lot of it is because now I am a published author and I'm trying to continue to write and promote while working full time. I have a lot on my plate and I've let my diabetes control slip. I had to change doctors because my doctor left. I liked my doctor but even more, I liked my diabetes educator. The place I am going now is one of the most popular endocrinologists nearby, but I don't care for them. So yes, I have a lot on my plate, a lot to deal with as we all do, and I am here because, though I've had diabetes for twenty-two years, I am way too young to give up. And I'm not about to!
That's why I've created this blog. I work full time and pursue writing on the side, so my schedule stays busy (a lot of time spent at the computer). I don't have any weight to lose, but I still consider exercise a very important part of my life. Lately, I've suffered depression and diabetes burn out.
That's right, I'm burned out. I get burned out from exercise, I take a break. I get burned out from work, I take a vacation. I get burned out from my writing, I take a break. Not so with diabetes. I cannot take a vacation from diabetes, it is a part of me, a part of my life, and I cannot ignore it.
I've created this blog to help me journal about things that bother me and to get my blood sugars back on track. I created this blog to reach out to others who may be going through some of the issues I am going through. I created this blog because writing things down helps me to focus on the problem and to get through it, but journaling hasn't done anything for me lately. Blogging about it makes it more "out there", and I'm a pretty private person. I hope blogging about it will make me more aware of what I'm doing and make me fix it.
My blood sugars have been higher than they ever have in my life. I haven't been eating right, so I know that is mostly to blame. I don't have the time or the energy to make a healthy gourmet meal at home. I may throw some chicken in the oven and eat whatever else I have. I may have a glass of wine or a beer at night after a hard day of work. And my exercise program is suffering.
I know a lot of it is because now I am a published author and I'm trying to continue to write and promote while working full time. I have a lot on my plate and I've let my diabetes control slip. I had to change doctors because my doctor left. I liked my doctor but even more, I liked my diabetes educator. The place I am going now is one of the most popular endocrinologists nearby, but I don't care for them. So yes, I have a lot on my plate, a lot to deal with as we all do, and I am here because, though I've had diabetes for twenty-two years, I am way too young to give up. And I'm not about to!
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