Data and what to make of it

I just downloaded data from my Dexcom and have been taking a look at it.  There’s so much data and so many different ways of looking at it; it’s hard to tell what to make of it.  There are a few items I like to focus on:

Modal Day screen

• average blood sugar for the month
• average blood sugar for the past 3 months
• standard deviation

Glucose Distribution screen

• % in range for the month
• % in range for the past 3 months

Success Report screen

• compare data montly
• compare data quarterly

The average will tell me about what my A1c will be.  I use this chart and I have found that comparing my Dexcom average to this chart is very close to my actual A1c.

The standard deviation will tell me if I am doing too much of a rollercoaster.  Lower is better.  I will confess, mine is not as low as I would like, so I know that I need to level it out.

% in range is very important to me.  Knowing that I am in range 75% of the time is greatly empowering.  Knowing that I am 95% in range upon waking is even more empowering.  Of course, knowing I am only 50ish% in range after lunch tells me that I need to work on that area.

Comparing the data from month to month is great for trends.  I can see that my average in October was less that what it was in September, which is great.  I can also see that my average for the last quarter is lower than the previous quarter, so I imagine that my A1c will be lower as well.

Using the Dexcom software can be a little overwhelming (there’s so much more data available than I even mentioned), but if I focus on these few things, I feel like I have a pretty good handle on my diabetes control.

Another trick up my sleeve

I’ve been using the super correct method to get my blood sugars down.  I have updated my technique to make it work a little better.

1.  I did end up doing the super part as “fill cannula”, which does annoy me that it doesn’t get tracked anywhere.  However, I imagine newer pumps will have this feature built in.

2.  I do the fill cannula in 2 steps, per Bernard, so that the last number listed is the correct “fill cannula” amount.  This prevents any weird things happening when I change my infusion site.

However, the newest trick added to the arsenal is using a temp rate to combat a low without having to eat Starburst.  =D

This mostly works because I have a Dexcom and can see these things coming.  If I am just above target, but going down too fast or have too much IOB, I will set a 10-15% temp rate for half an hour.  This small drop in insulin is enough to get me to my target and stay there, instead of dropping below and having to eat something to bring it up.

Just one more thing to add to my arsenal.  Take that, diabetes!

Well, it works…

In a never-ending quest for lower and more stable blood sugars, I’ve been making some tweaks.  However, looking at the data, I’m less sure I’m doing the “right thing.”

I’ve done overnight, morning, and afternoon basal tests (evening still eludes me), so I know those are good.  My insulin:carb ratios are such that I am taking quite a bit of insulin with meals.  Result:

1. I rarely go above 200/220 after meals.  And if I do, I almost always come right back down.
2. My basal % of TDD is 30-35%.  Very very low.
3. Because of the reduced basal, I have to bolus for Every. Single. Piece of Food. I put in my mouth.  i.e. if I treat a low with 2 Starburst instead of 1, I have to bolus for that 2nd Starburst.

I’m getting a little concerned about #2.  Early recommendations are for basal % TDD to be around 50%.  Pumping Insulin also has recommendations for basal % TDD to be around 40%.  Additionally, some studies have shown that the people with the least variability have basal % TDDs of around 40%.  So, I’m not way off base, but 30%?  Really?

HOWEVER!  My last A1c was 5.9% with almost no lows and less time spent high.  My % in range has continued to go up, even as I am lowering my basal.  Should I be worried that I’m not following the “correct” recommendations even though the end results show it works?

Not just a blogger

As you are no doubt aware, I have not posted since January.  8 whole months.  But you know what?  I don’t care that much.  Instead of spending my time carefully crafting a post for 5 people to read, I have been actually living my life.

I knit.  I sew.  I bake.  I throw parties.  I go to parties.  I visit with family.  I make new friends.  I see old friends.  I watch TV.  I play new video games.  I play old video games.  I watch movies.  I ride my bike.  I play tennis.  I read.

Oh yeah, and all the diabetes stuff too.  I test.  I eat.  I bolus.  I test.  I basal test.  I treat lows.  I treat highs.  I test.

Sometimes it’s good to get away from the screen.  This blogging stuff?  I don’t really miss it.

P. S.  I’d be lying if I said I was “unplugged” all the time.  You can check out my Twitter feed at http://twitter.com/Amalas

Diabetes misinformation in comics

I don’t know how many of you read xkcd, but it’s a really great math/geek/romance/stick figure comic (yes, you read that correctly).  Today’s comic mentions diabetes, so I took extra notice.

(make sure to click through the image to see the comic page, and then mouse-over to read the alt-text)

As you probably guessed, I got a little miffed.  Yet another inaccurate portrayal of diabetes.  /sigh

There are forum threads dedicated for each comic, so I went there (login not required to view) to inform other readers that this isn’t how it works at all.  But, it seems that others had beat me to it.

I am glad that people jumped on the fact that Type 1 and Type 2 are different diseases and the comic is not an accurate portrayal of either.  Unfortunately, most people don’t bother to read the forums, so all they would see is the misinformation in the comic itself.

However, I think we can all understand that the comic is more about Jurassic Park and parenting than it is about diabetes.

P.S.  For more information about my serious lack of posting, see my general blog post here.

Charlie’s first Christmas party

Last year was Lucy’s first Christmas. She hung out in the back of a very strappy blue dress.  This year, though, I had two girls to keep track of.  Target to the rescue!

OMG, this dress is so awesome.  I wore it two other times before this party and it’s just great.  The shoes kick ass too.  And you can never go wrong with pearls.  (Ignore my hair, this was taken after the party ><)  I also wore a shawl for some of the night too.

However, here is the best part of the dress:

That’s right.  This dress has pockets.  FTW.  All I had to do was cut a little slit in the inside of each pocket so I could slip my tubing through.  I also added a little velcro to keep the slit shut.  I had absolutely zero trouble bolusing or checking Charlie or anything.

I totally can manage my diabetes and look fantastic at the same time.  =)

Our own language

I have been with Lucy for a year and half now, and we have gotten to the point where we speak our own language.  I know what she is telling me before I even look at her.

*beep*

Oh, my last blood sugar was high.  Thanks for reminding me to check again.

*beep*

Oh, you’re done delivering my bolus.  Time to eat.

*beep*

Oh, I am low on insulin.  Better pack a spare reservoir so I can refill at work.

To my husband and other people who hear my devices beep, those beeps mean nothing.  But to me, those beeps are a language all their own.  One only diabetics know.

*beep*

Diabetes-free shower

I managed to time things yesterday such that I did an infusion site change and a sensor change right at the time I was taking a shower.  I ripped out my sensor, disconnected from my pump, tore off my infusion site, and hopped in the shower.

It was glorious!

I twirled around and around without worrying about being caught in tubing.  I used my loofah without worrying about catching it on my sensor.  I scrubbed, I moved, I danced.  For that short little 15 minutes, I forgot about diabetes and just let myself be me.

It was probably a little ridiculous to be so excited about such a thing, but I’ll take what I can get.

Anyone want some IV-3000?

After my horrible experience with IV-3000, I decided to give it another try, in case the first case was a fluke.

It wasn’t.

As a result, I have 48 IV-3000 thingies that I no longer need.  If you would like some (2, 10, all of them), just let me know.  I’d like to get some of my money back on it, but I am not opposed to giving them away either.  You can email me at amalasblog[AT]gmail[DOT]com.

Another joins our ranks

I wasn’t sure what to write about for D-blog day, but then I heard from my dad that there is another brand new diabetic in the world.

Her name is Katie (I’ll have to check on the spelling) and she’s my sister’s ice skating coach.  All I know so far is that her blood sugar was over 600 and went to the emergency room and had to stay overnight.

I imagine she will be contacting me soon and I will definitely be pointing her to the awesome Diabetes OC!  I know you all have helped me so much through the years, and I can’t wait to pass on all the wonderful wisdom.