Sanford aims to cure type 1?
OK, First of all I should make an update on my eyes- I did see a retinal specialist in Sioux Falls who said if at all, that I had "exceedingly mild" retinopathy and that he would expect this or worse since I've had type 1 for 16 + years now. YAY! What fantastic news. Also that I don't need to see him again unless I have any active bleeds pop up.
So on to the topic at hand. This weekend my family and I went up to the Sanford Imagine Festival and had a wonderful time! Rascal Flatts is one of my favorite groups, so I was more than thrilled to see them live! What great entertainers. Aly & AJ and Sheryl Crow were on as well and were wonderful!
The icing on my cake of a weekend is that Sanford announced that they will be "curing type 1" as their project- working with the JDRF to cure type 1 diabetes. They will be building a research center in Sioux Falls to accomplish this. I can't express enough the extreme joy that I feel in this announcement. Who'd have guessed that when I moved to Iowa 8 years ago, I would be within an hour and a half of a drive from where we just could possibly cure type 1 diabetes? I don't know how or when but I tell you I MUST be a part of this! I would work for free if it meant helping to find a cure. No, I am not leaving OCAHS, but I would love to add this to my plate- in several years of course, as I know it will take a while to get things going. Now I know where my education will take me, that is for sure. I am looknig into ways I can gear up for a part in the research with a Master's degree. Like I said, I don't know how or when but I do feel like I was meant to be involved somehow.
Posted by Cari Roorda
Retinopathy....
I officially have "mild nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy". You might remember last year that I had a small dot hemorrhage in my right eye at my dilated eye exam. This time I had 4 in the right, and 2 in the left. It really hit me hard...I know at my stage (having D for over 16 years) most people have some form of diabetic retinopathy...
but I think I have been secretly holding out the hope that I am still the invincible Cari I used to be.
Now I am humbled by the reminder that I am NOT invincible, but just as vulnerable to the complications of diabetes as anyone else. I am going to strive for the most minimal blood sugar fluctuations by being more strict about bolusing for meals ahead of time and avoiding simple sugars. The more stable my blood sugars, the less likely that I will suffer a larger hemorrhage that will rob me of my vision and being able to look into the eyes of my 2 sweet little boys...It's hard to be writing this but I do want everyone to know that I struggle too, and that is the point of this blog - so I can relate to all of you on a deeper level - yes I have the knowledge and training, but ultimately I am also a person with diabetes- and I refuse to let it take any of my quality of life- no matter how long I have it. I am going to meet with a specialist after this whole ordeal and gets some more detailed pictures of my retina so we can see just exactly what is going on in there. For those of you who don't know much about the treatment- this stage is just a wait and see and pray and take control of those A,B,Cs ( A1c, blood pressure, and cholesterol!).
Stay tuned....
Posted by Cari Roorda
Cool online newsletter
Today I was cleaning out the "Favorites" on my computer and came across this link:
http://www.diabetesincontrol.com/
It is a neat weekly newletter available online with some really great articles.
I have talked to many if not all of you about resistance training and muscle building as a part of your exercise routine- here is a great article on Resistance Training:
http://www.diabetesincontrol.com/results.php?storyarticle=5633
Hope you find that informative!
Now get out there and enjoy the beautiful sunshine! (:
Posted by Cari Roorda
Prediabetes info
First of all, I wanted to put a link up to direct those looking for "Prediabetes" information to the ADA's website. (Highlight and copy and paste into your browser's address bar)
http://www.diabetes.org/pre-diabetes.jsp
The ADA site provides great diabetes education articles and columns in addition to the info you can access under the "Resources" tab located at the top of this page.
Another thing I wanted to mention is that we will not be having a support group this month due to the weather and flu outbreaks. I hope to see you in July, which is the next time I will host the Sioux County Diabetes Support Group here in Orange City. The topic remains undecided at this time.
On to brighter things- I really hope this weather warms up so we can all get moving outside- Good for the soul- and for the blood sugars!Email me if you need some motivation to get started on an exercise or healthy eating routine so you can have a healthy summer.
Posted by Cari Roorda
That was easy!
In my last post I discussed trying to get set up with my new Omnipod system (www.myomnipod.com). Well, I have been "pumping" (podding?) with the Omnipod since last Thursday. Two words: Life Changing! I LOVE this new tool! It provides so much more discretion - also just the little things that had become so second nature to me- like getting wrapped up in tubing every night- are a thing of the past. Omnipod's slogan is "Making diabetes a smaller part of your life" and I really have to say that it DOES DELIVER that. I can check my blood sugar right in my PDM and it is instantly ready to be used in my bolus wizard. (In case you don't know it is the calculator built in to your pump that tells you- based on your personal pre-sets- how much insulin you need to cover your carbs while also considering your current BG and your BG goals)
If you have any questions about it, feel free to call me, or come to the next NW Iowa Insulin Pumper's support group at the Sioux Center Community Hospital on the 19th of this month and I will be available to show you exactly how it works. Have a fantastic week!
Posted by Cari Roorda
Happy New Year!
Is it really that time again? 2008 is here and what a perfect time to make healthy changes and goals for your Diabetes Self-Management.
My personal goal is working to get set up with the Omnipod (www.myomnipod.com) in order to further improve my blood glucose management and quality of life.
I am excited to have been with OCAHS for almost a whole year now, and feel so blessed to be doing my job and helping fellow PWD live healthy lives. I hope and pray that this new year means positive change for each of you. There are so many amazing developments coming out in Diabetes care. Not the cure I was promised "within 5 years" of diagnosis, but pretty great all the same.
Posted by Cari Roorda
Tonight's group
I am excited about the support group tonight! I have a lot of food prep to do beforehand (: so won't be in the office after about 2 today. I hope we have a great turnout!
I also wanted to say that on the 27th I am pleased to welcome Tim Palmer from Dexcom to the area- he will be speaking to the area educators that afternoon and then to the pump support group in Sioux Center.
Stay tuned for more information!
Posted by Cari Roorda
Beating Burnout
Just to let everyone know I am working on my "Beating Diabetes Burn-out" support group topic for November's Sioux County Diabetes Support group-
Anyone who has tips that work for them, please email them to me and I will be able to share with others at the group. Otherwise, come to the group in the basement of the new hospital at 7pm on November 14th and share yourself...
Hope to see you there!
Posted by Cari Roorda
Wow it's been a while!
I have to apologize for being a "bad blogger". I haven't updated my blog in a couple of weeks! I have no idea how the past month could be gone already.
Illness went in circles in my family all summer, and September was no better. Hopefully we will on remain healthy from here on out! I cringe at the thought of flu season. Flu shots this month already?! (By the way, be sure to get yours!)
I had a crazy month of sugars b/c of the illness. HOPEFULLY now I will see more of an even-keel blood sugar profile. I have decided (after reading mixed reviews) to give Apidra a try in my pump. Apidra is the rapid acting insulin (much like Novolog and Humalog) put out by Sanofi-Aventis- who you may or may not know also put out Lantus. Speaking of which I am still trying the Un-tethered Regimen now and again. I really like that safety net if I have a bad pump site (which is back to occuring more frequently).
On a side note: Did anybody watch the VH1 finale of Rock of Love, starring Rocker Bret Michaels? He has type 1 diabetes and the finale featured him "almost going into insulin shock" on 2 seperate occasions. Any thoughts on this, email me though the site here.
Happy October!
Posted by Cari Roorda
How do I beat burnout?
This morning while checking my email, one email in particular jumped out at me after thinking about my past few weeks. It was a digest from DLife, and had a little preview of the weekly featured articles. The headline that captured my attention the most was " How to Beat Burnout" (the topic I plan to cover at the November Sioux County Diabetes Support Group). I linked to the article written by "Six Until Me" blogger Kerri Morrone. You can also read it here at: http://www.dlife.com/generation_d/2007/08/bitesized_diabetes.html
In the article she opens with detailing some of the monotonous tasks that we must accomplish day to day to keep our diabetes in control and to care for ourselves. She says it well here and sums up what many of my patients are telling me on a daily basis:
"Remaining motivated is a challenge for me. Sometimes it’s the biggest challenge. My diabetes-related complications are minimal at this time in my life, so it’s hard to keep thinking “what could happen” as a way to keep myself vigilant. The threat of complications, though terrifying when I am waiting for the retinologist to peer into the depths of my dilated eyes, isn’t what makes me maintain my diabetes on an hourly basis." - Kerri Morrone
In this article she writes of the importance of short term goals (which are so important!) and how it is easier to think of your management in terms of "bite-sized" or as she puts it "whittling her diabetes management down to a manageable size".
To me that seems like a very good way to look at things. It is so easy to get overwhelmed when we think " I have to get my sugars to an average of 100, lose 25 pounds (or more), exercise, cut out some of my favorite "junk foods". So why not just think about it in as Kerri puts it- in "bite-sized bits"? What is your goal today? For me, I am focusing on fine-tuning my basal rates again as I just resumed the untethered regimen (Lantus & the pump) after I determined I am not allergic to Lantus as I thought, but instead was just having residual effects from the pneumonia I fought this summer.
Today I will be in the office most of the day, but for a lunch Webinaar in Sioux Center by the AADE called "Fact Vs. Fiction: Supplements, Herbs, and Diabetes". I will post what I learn at a later date.
Hope everyone is having a great week!
Posted by Cari Roorda
