Saturday, August 20, 2011

Thursday, August 18, 2011

At the Eye Doctor

No retinopathy. Excellent.

No new technology. Dilation still stings, and it still sucks, and it still is unsafe to drvie afterward, and I still do anyway.

I did request a prescription for Latisse. I want sexy eyelashes, baby. I got one, (a prescription, not a sexy eyelash) and was told to call around to various pharmacies and see which one would be cheapest, since insurance doesn't cover this particular drug. (Answer: Target).

"Any other questions for me?"

"Nope. Just about my vanity and long eyelashes."

Then her voice got all comforting and soothing-like, "oh honey, you're not being vain."

Um, hello? I don't know if we have separate definitions of vanity, but I'm pretty sure wanting Latisse falls squarely under that umbrella. I'm OK with my vanity. I probably think this song is about me, too.

I use mascara. Other than cost, I don't really see the difference. "LOOK AT MY EYELASHES" is pretty much the message.

Then the technician pulled me aside and showed me her gorgeous eyelashes (and they were gorgeous) and told me to be careful with my mascara once I got the Latisse because excessive mascara use can break the newly long, lush lashes. I asked her which pharmacy she used, and she admitted that she gets her Latisse from Mexico. Hmmm....maybe I should take a drive....but Mexican pharmacies scare me, in a total I've-never-been-to-one kind of way.

And now, if you will excuse me, I will now go about the rest of my day, with "You're so vain" stuck in my head. My poor children.

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Fictional PWD

I read a book recently. It wasn't a good book, per se, (it happens when you pick up random stuff at the library) and I was about to put it down when it was revealed that one of the main characters was a T1 diabetic.

I was immediately riveted.

It was more accurate than other fictional diabetes stories, I mean, the terminology was there - she used Humalog and Lantus - but it seemed she was on a "four hour" system, and she shot up every 4 hours with Humalog. I don't work that way. I mean, I probably eat close to every 4 hours when I can, so maybe that's how she did it, but it seemed different. I think in terms of "meals" and "exercise", not specifically "time" although that certainly enters into things. (How long until I eat again? Can I go here without a snack first, yada yada) But a strict four hour shot schedule? Has anyone else ever heard of something like this?

(Every time she checked, she was over 200, so I don't know how well it was working for her, but you know, fiction and all. And at least the author knew what was high and what wasn't.)

She told NOBODY she was diabetic, it was like she was ashamed of it or something, even though she said she considered it like having blue eyes, brown hair, and a non-working pancreas. (Her fiancee knew, but they never talked about it.)

She almost went into DKA on her wedding day, and was concerned about ketones in her urine, and her bg reading of 400, and what it was doing to her unborn child, all of which is very accurate. And her description of feeling fuzzy, needing some water and to lie down, certainly describes feeling high.

Her mantra was: Control it, or it controls you. And boy, do I get that.

It just made me wonder how the author did her research, did she read about it, talk to people with it? I mean, it was a pretty good description of diabetes (except what's with the fierce secrecy? You can tell people without being a victim).

Fictional diabetics always fascinate me now. And when the writers are completely WRONG, it drives me nutso. How many people did that inaccurate info have to go through to get to the page/tv/movie? After all, this is where a lot of people get their picture of diabetics.

Maybe all the REAL PWD should get together and produce a TV show or two, write some books, and end up with a major hit blockbuster movie. Possibly with vampires. That would be sweet.

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Once Upon A Time On Vacation...

"So - if you're a twig, how come you have diabetes?"

Ah, the old 'it's a fat person's disease' come to town. I was happy to explain that he was thinking of Type 2, that there are many other reasons people get Type 2 besides weight issues, and that my disease (Type 1) is an auto-immune one.

"What does auto-immune mean?" Ok then, it means your immune system goes into overdrive and starts attacking things that aren't foreign.

"So, it's like AIDS then?"

Well, that's a new one. No, no it's not like AIDS at all.