Finals & Diabetes

Today's entry is about something I thought of today: How to manage Diabetes during Finals week at college or SOLs/SATs. I’ve been A type 1 diabetic since age 12, so I got to deal with all the above while managing my diabetes.

The most important thing to do during this hectic period of time is to watch your blood glucose levels like a hawk. I test quite a lot currently, but I check probably 9 times a day during these stressful times. The stress & worry of upcoming finals or whatever can cause your levels to elevate. Just make sure you check, check, check & correct accordingly & try not to stress if possible.

Next suggestion is to watch what you eat. No, not a diet. Just don’t eat too much or too frequently, because there’s nothing more agonizing than trying to study while feeling sluggish & tired. Either eat lighter or spread your meals & snacks apart.

The last thing I do (depends on your religious affiliation) is pray. I am very religious & I pray about everything that goes wrong in my life & let God handle it.

When it comes to the day/s of the finals or SOLs/SATs, make sure to test before you start the exam & have water & a low BG snack just in case & be vocal with your professors.
I hope this blog has helped & good luck on your upcoming exams!

You can hear this in audio format by clicking HERE

Thanksgiving Being A Diabetic

    First off, Happy Thanksgiving to all my readers! I hope you have a great time with your loved ones & that your BGs don't suffer too much. With Thanksgiving comes food, SO MUCH FOOD! And with such food comes family members who "Have your best interest at heart" & do things that drive you mad, like watching you [the diabetic] as you get your plate (well plates for me) or stare at your pate as you chow down. Kind of looks like the above picture right? This article is to tell you how to keep calm & enjoy Thanksgiving.
   
    First off keep in mind that they actually have your best interest at heart. Most are afraid that their diabetic loved on/s will end up on dialysis like their friend's sister's husband's grandfather or believe eating right will cure diabetes. They do care about you, just have a hard time with the fact you're diabetic. If you have one of both of the instances mentioned earlier, just try your best to hold your tongue. I know how hard that is trust me.
 
  Second,  If you expect glaring glances or eyeballs watching what you eat or put on our plate, probably indicates that you are eating too much & know it. I've been this way at times & know how hard the temptations are to pass (sweets etc...) & all diabetics have times where they cave in & have a piece of pie or something. Now, I don't eat sweets hardly ever & if I do, it's delicious! Just have to keep an eye on my BG. But just know when enough is enough.

Lastly, if you know the people that are like I mentioned, have a talk with them before the event (when you're not upset at them) & tell them how you feel. I always assure my relatives that do this that I am the diabetic & I know the do's & don'ts & if I under-bolus/over-bolus for the feast, I will handle it & appreciate their love & concern for me. Talking beforehand may ease the tension for some.

How do you overcome these types of relatives?
Comment below or tweet me @insulin_junkie9
follow me on Twitter, Instagram (insulin_junkie9) YouTube & make sure to subscribe to my blog.
Starting next semester of college I will have more time to blog, so expect more!
Again, Happy Thanksgiving everyone & God Bless!

Livongo In Touch Blood Glucose Meter In-Depth Review

Last week I (FINALLY) received my In Touch meter by Livongo health that I had been very anxious for. i posted an unboxing/Initial review video which you can watch here. This video is about the meter & all the goodies that came with it. I will leave no stone unturned! I will be giving my review (opinion) on every  undividual item & the pros/cons & a 1 (worst) to 5 (best) rating. So let us begin! I will not include the control solution or lancets.

packaging impressions

The packaging of the meter was nicely done. It felt like I was opening an Apple product. No Pros/cons here.

RATING: 5/5

Carrying Case

The carrying case is the standard black case. It has a lot of room in it [for me anyway]. I could even fit an insulin vial in it! I'm not one who likes designed cases, so I like this case. I liked the compartments where the lancing device, strips & meter goes. However, the place where the lancing device goes had to be stretched before it would fit. It took 5 days to get that darn pricker in there!

PROS:
~ Roomy

~ Easy to maneuver. 

CONS:

~ Lancing device place.

RATING: 4.7/5

Lancing Device

The worst component of this meter was its lancing device (AKA pricker). This this was rubbish! The pricker is designed to auto-eject lancets to avoid accidental puncture. I tested it out & it ejected nicely, but got stuck & would not go back in so I had to throw it away :,(. So now I have 3 boxes of lancets I cannot use.  I got the Fastclix so I am happy. I LOVE the Fastclix. Very well designed device.

RATING: 0/5 (5/5 for Fastclix)

TEST STRIPS

BOTTLE:

I like the bottle the strips come in. Very sturdy. 

STRIPS:
I love the strips size. I always have trouble grabbing strips out of tiny bottles. So the extra room in the bottle & bigger (length wise) strips makes it easier to obtain them. My only (minor) complaint is that they came in a better sorted variety of colors.  The strips come in different colors. I would like to see a cyan or red strip. & I tend to get the same 2-3 colors in every vial of strips.  I have had very few strip errors (Knock on wood!)

RATING (Bottle): 5/5

RATING (Strips): 4.9/5

MYLIVONGO SOFTWARE

I love the customer service! Always nice & helpful. The software is easy to use.
RATING: Customer Service: 5/5
Software: 4.8/5

Livongo Health has pretty decent customer service reps. All the ons I've dealt with were nice & considerate. 

RATING: 5/5

 

UPDATE 2 (4/27/16): I found out that Livongo is no longer offering the $25/month deal. Their statement can be found HERE. The statement says:
"Thanks for your interest in our Early Access Program. We are no longer accepting new applicants to our program at this time.". 
Sorry for the hype on this & the other article. I suggest if you are really interested in this meter to put your e-mail address down.

 

The Mother of All Meters: Livongo In Touch Meter--Initial Impressions

Over the past 9 years being a type 1 diabetic (T1D), I have used every name brand BG meter. I started out in 2006 (year diagnosed) using the One Touch Ultra. Here I am 9 years later using the One Touch Verio. I didn't expect to switch meters anytime soon, but then this was introduced to me & I couldn't say no to this AMAZING Meter/System. Livongo's (short for Living on the Go) In Touch Meter was too good to pass up! Here is why it is awesome & my initial impressions (while I anxiously await its arrival :) ). Let me dive right in & blow your minds with unbelievable awesomeness!

The Livongo Meter (as seen in the picture) is a full color touchscreen that is said to feel like a screen on your typical smartphone. Speaking of smartphones, the meter come with its own cellular signal (believed to be through AT&T). This signal is provided because you are able to add contacts to your "Care Team". You can add your endocrinologist, CDE or family/friends, & they will be alerted if your BG is very low (<50 mg/dl) or very high (400+ mg/dl). This meter is great for parents of a diabetic who travels to band camp or on Senior break trip. This keeps parents in the know.

When you order your In Touch Meter you will get:
- An In Touch BG Meter
- Lancing device (that ejects used lancets to avoid accidental pricking)
- 300 Lancets
- 300 test strips per month.
- charger
- manuals

The best parts about this is you get an UNLIMITED amount of strips every month. No additional cost & free shipping (7-10 business days)
If you have No insurance coverage then this is the meter for you because it does NOT contact your insurance! If you aren't sold yet you will be by the price. So how much does all the mentioned above cost you wonder? Only $25 (for 2 years). Livongo is doing a limited time offer that allows diabetics to only pay $25 a month for 2 years. After the 2 years it will be $75 a month. AND you get your first month FREE!

This deal is too good to pass up!
If you want to own your own Livongo In Touch Meter, go to www.livongo.com to sign up.
If you have any comments or questions just comment below or hit me up on Twitter (@Insulin_Junkie9)

Also, there's an awesome Facebook group for current users of this meter & those inquiring about it. Click here to join the group
________________________________________________________________________________
UPDATE 1 (10/13/15): I got the e-mail today with the tracking number & I will be getting the meter tomorrow!!

UPDATE 2 (4/27/16): I found out that Livongo is no longer offering the $25/month deal. Their statement can be found HERE. The statement says:
"Thanks for your interest in our Early Access Program. We are no longer accepting new applicants to our program at this time.". 
Sorry for the hype on this & the other article. I suggest if you are really interested in this meter to put your e-mail address down.

My opinion on Reli On Diabetes Supplies

As you may know if you watch any of my YouTube videos, I am without insurance. I will be back on a new plan next month!!

While I was without, I used a lot of diabetes supplies from "Reli On". I will continue to use them once my new plan kicks in. I use teir Syringes & insulin pen needles. In this entry, I will be giving my review on both products & the company overall's rating from myself.

Let's start with the SYRINGES!
I have been using the Reli On syringes for a week or so now & I like them! A syringe is a syringe right? The only reason  use theirs is the price. (The prices are the main reason I use them). I paid $12/59 U.S dollars for a box of 100 syringes! That is a steal of a deal. Not much really to review for the syringe. Just the price is awesome!

Next is the PEN NEEDLES!
I do love their pen needles. There are 2 reasons why I love using them. 1 is the price of course & 2 is the design. I got a box of 50 needles for just $9! That blew my mind. That is another steal. These prices are without insurance too! My second reason is that it is a bit different then my standard needles. With my other needles, you have to put the needle on the insulin pen & twist it on. With the Reli On needle, you just press it until you hear 2 clicks & that's it!

OVERALL...
I highly recommend the Reli On brand. Very good quality supplies (in my opinion) & the prices cannot be beat!

RATING: 10/10

My Reaction to the "Open Diabetes" Outrage

Here is the video of my reaction to the "Open, Diabetes" "joke" Crossfit tweeted a few weeks ago.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYrXF3VAH3U
Sorry about my voice:)
Feel free to SUBSCRIBE to my YouTube channel :D!

Have No Fear, The DOC is here!

Tonight's post is mainly a post out of gratitude. This is about the best resource (as far as support goes) any diabetic can get. When I was diagnosed in '06, I wasn't involved in any form of social media. But when I turned 16, I was allowed to create a MySpace account. There I reconnected with friends, family etc... But it wasn't until I got a facebook that my saving grace was found. I joined a group on facebook called "I Hate Diabetes (Type 1)". The members of this group were so supportive, they helped me further understand my diabetes. Since then, I am in A LOT of Diabetes Support groups, & have some of my own. All These groups combined are called the DOC (Diabetes Online Community). I suggest if your a parent reading this (of a young diabetic) or a diabetic of age to have social media accounts, to become a member of the DOC. You can post anything & no-one will judge you. If you do not have much support. If your family & friends bash you about the decisions that you make regarding youe diabetes management, the DOC will always support you.
Here is the links to my group & the group I referred to above.

My group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/insulinaddicts/
I Hate Diabetes (Type 1):https://www.facebook.com/groups/165111356973282/
God bless each & every one of you!