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Sarah's Road to Pumping
9/27/06--H1C 5.8% this month...Happy Birthday to me!

8/11/06--How do you beat a 6.0 H1C? By getting a 5.9! I have an amazing team helping me to stay on track during my pregnancy. It's a ton of work and worry, but I know it will all be worth it in the end. 

7/14/06--After spending close to a year trying to get my H1C down, my latest H1C result was 6.0!!! Wow. Great news for me and for baby Ross #2.

5/8/06--Still pumping. My nurse was tickled today when I showed her my blood glucose readings for the past week. She said she couldn't remember seeing anyone's numbers fall in line so quickly after starting the pump. What great news! It's been a great first month.

4/23/06--Things are going really well with the pump. I've changed my infusion site three times--and am feeling very comfortable with the process now. The only time I've experienced any discomfort or pain with it is when Jackson has kicked the site when I'm carrying him, or the dogs get wrapped up in the tubing--yes, that does happen!  The lows I was having with it at first has been remedied, and things are going really smoothly.  It's also interesting that wearing the pump on the outside of my clothes has forced me to talk about my diabetes more than I ever did with shots. People notice it, and wonder what it is, and I'm getting more comfortable telling them. My visits to the clinic & doctor have started slowing down a bit. It will be nice when I'm back on my every two months schedule again.

4/11/06--Okay, I'm pumped. It's really been a wonderful day without carrying my bottle of insulin and syringes around town with me. I was relieved to hear my diabetes educator encourage me to stick with my old food schedule until I get comfortable with my pump.  Jackson doesn't like to look at the infusion site--and pulls my shirt down if I show him. He calls the tubing my "hose" and asked me if there was water in it. Hmm. I can't feel the tubing...but the site is sore as I found out trying to wrestle Jack at Sam's. For those of you too far away to yank my shirt up to cure your curiousity (you know who you are!), I took a picture for you...click HERE.





Click here to read one woman's story of switching to the pump
Animas IR-1250 (want to play with it? Click on the "virtual zone" link on the upper left)

This is for those of you who have asked me for this info over the past few months (and those of you who are interested)...



I was diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes in 2003 during my pregnancy with Jackson. In very rare instances, this temporary condition can progress into permanent Type 1 Diabetes...that's what happened to me. I remember the first few months were a blur of doctor's visits and tests. I was always sore--the constant blood tests hurt my fingers and the insulin injections left bruises on my legs & stomach. I battled high & low blood sugars, leaving me fatigued and grouchy. Through all this I really didn't have time to react; it wasn't until a couple of months later that I finally broke down one night lying in bed. It was close to Thanksgiving and all I could think about was my Grandma's pumpkin pie. I could just picture myself eating sugar-free jello salad while those healthy pancreases ate MY pie! Looking back, I wonder how David kept from laughing as my weeping about pumpkin pie quickly turned into blubbering about my impending doom.

It's been almost three years now. My fears of "impending doom" have been quieted a little by research--and much by daily handing them over to God (not a small feat for this OCD control freak!). As things became more routine, they also became less frightening and painful. I can do my blood test while driving and handing Jack a juice box (maybe worse than talking on the cell phone?) I can give an injection in one leg while Jack tugs on the other--"momma, play cars!" Life goes on, and those things I thought I'd never get used to are simply part of my daily routine now.

Controlling Diabetes isn't about sugar--it's about balance (I CAN have a piece of Grandma's pie!). By balancing diet, exercise, and insulin, I have found that my life really doesn't feel that different, and I'm probably healthier than I've ever been. Many of you have asked for my "special diet," which really isn't all that special. But here it is: (This diet was specially formulated for me by my dietician, and may not meet your specific needs.)

Time	8-9am	10am	12-1:30pm	3:30-4:00pm	6:30pm	9-10pm
	Breakfast	AM Snack	Lunch	PM Snack	Dinner	HS Snack
CHO	30 g	30g	45-60g	30g	45-60g	30g
Servings	2 Starches 1 Meat 1 fat	1 milk 1 fruit	2-3 starches 1 fruit 1-2 vegetable 3 oz. meat 1-2 fat	1 milk 1 starch	2-3 starch 1 milk 1-2 vegetables 3 oz. meat 1-2 fat	1 milk 1 starch 0-1 fat
Example	1 english muffin 1 egg 1 tsp margarine	1 c skim milk 1/2 banana	2 slices wheat bread 3 oz chicken salad (2 tsp mayo) 12 baked chips 17 grapes	1 c skim milk 5 vanilla wafers	1 c cooked pasta 1/2c sauce 3oz meat 1 sl garlic bread Salad (1 Tbsp dressing)	1c yogurt 1/4 c grape-nuts