Statin update

Well, I called the study and they got back to me and said I could go on Zocor, but I had to go off during the infusion time. (October) Going off and on seemed a little strange, so I decided to wait until after my infusions to take it.

I wanted to talk to my endo about it. I had my appointment yesterday, and talked to him about waiting until after the infusion to start the statin. He thought that was a good idea, although he wasn't sure he wanted me to treat the cholesterol at all.

I have a family history of high cholesterol, but no history of heart disease. Have I mentioned how much I love my endo? He knows the ADA guidelines, and the reasons behind them, but he firmly believes in treating the individual. He was saying all the stuff that I was reading, that treating high cholesterol doesn't necessarily prevent heart disease, and that some high numbers don't necessarily a sick person make.

HOWEVER, seeing as you do need to be a tad more aggressive when dealing with diabetics and cholesterol, he ordered a VAP test and a CRP test, and he was trying to describe what it was for, and I said "to see if my fat is fluffy?" He laughed, and said "how do you know that term? That's exactly it." I said, "they told me in class."

So there you go. Let's all hope for fluffy fat.

I Did It AGAIN!!

I switched up my insulins again, and once more, overdosed. This time, it was on Friday. Woke up, thought "time for my Lantus", and boom. All 10 units were of Novolog. Fabulous. I didn't even think about it (or notice! How scary is that??) until about 10 minutes later when I went to take my Novolog to dose for breakfast. That's when I realized...I've seen this bottle today...and it wasn't good. (I keep them in separate places.)

I was on vacation, and was packing up to leave. I completely blame that. But still. NOT GOOD, people! I ate my breakfast, doubled it, in fact, which can account for maybe a third of the dose that I took, and then told my husband and went and sat in the car eating Starburst while he packed up everything.

It actually wasn't too bad. I would check my sugars every 15 minutes, eat a candy, and wait. Timing wise, it worked out pretty well, so I didn't go too low or too high. LAST time, (and I can't believe I have a frame of reference for this, gah!) I freaked out and drank a can and a half of Dr. Pepper and munched candy one after another. I got fairly high (mid 200's) and then waited for the insulin to do its thing. This time, I just kept it slow and steady, but this time, it was more insulin. There will NOT be a next time.

Still, though, lots of candy on hand is a good thing. I think I need to be cured now. Obviously I can't be trusted with these meds.

Six Months

Today is officially the six month anniversary of diagnosis.

It really has just become a part of my life, something I just deal with, and for the most part, I'm OK, since the control is still pretty easy.

But today, the permanence of this disease is sinking in. I've been doing this for six months, and will be doing it for many, many more. All the months, actually. There's no "six months down, six to go!" rallying cry or such. It's a little depressing.

But there's nothing to be done about it, and wallowing is not pretty or healthy. So I just carry on, buying insulin, counting carbs, and hoping that medical breakthroughs continue to happen.

Statin, statin, who wants a statin? Do I?

So, I switched PCP's recently. The new dude ran a lipid profile, since the one I had done at diagnosis was hideously bad, but nobody takes that as accurate, since high sugars also bring up your cholesterol. (Seriously, is there anything high sugars do not screw up?)

Anyway, the LDL was high, and he sent me a card with the results along with a prescription for simvastatin, the generic for Zocor. The rest of the numbers were good, btw. Triglycerides, HDL, all that. And it is light years better than what it was in January at diagnosis.

I'm a little torn about this. On the one hand, I know high cholesterol is bad, especially for diabetics. Bad, bad, bad. On the other hand, I've been reading about statins, and they seem to be pretty well tolerated in for short-term use, but long term, the side effects and risks really start to outweigh the benefits.

The thing that really concerns me, however, is that they have recently learned that they seem to lower your blood pressure as well, which has a lot of people saying "Great! 2 risk factors lowered in one drug!" For me, though, it is not uncommon for nurses to take my blood pressure multiple times, saying "hmmm....that's a little low...let me recheck." And I am constantly hearing "Is your blood pressure usually this low? Is this normal for you?" My last BP 2 days ago was 80/50. So yeah, I run low.

Plus, I'm not sure if I can take a statin while on this study, and there's no way I'm jeopardizing my status in the study for this pill. I asked the study nurse, she should be calling me on Monday to tell me whether or not it's OK.

So that leaves me staring at this prescription, wondering whether or not to fill it. What do you think?

Bright Light! Bright Light!

My eyes are dilated. The sun and I should be friends again in oh, 4-6 hours.

I am happy to report no diabetic retinopathy. I didn't think there would be, but if there's one thing I've learned about this disease, it's that YOU NEVER KNOW.

The end.

Ahem

I went up to Utah for another blood draw (I swear, so ridiculous that I have to go up there) and they ran another a1c. The result was.......(may I have a drum roll, please)?......................................

............................5.3!!!!!

Yeah, I'm pretty excited about that. Woot!Woot!

My Insurance is Changing

Just when I had this whole HMO thing figured out.....

I swear this is the fourth insurance plan we've had, and we've only lived here 2 years. Switching everything out every 6 months is getting a little tiring.

Everything will be more expensive (surprised?) but at least I won't need referrals anymore. Somehow, though, I'd rather get a referral than drop $50 every time I go to the endo when I used to have a $25 copay at specialists. Not to mention the increased cost at the pharmacy....

If only insulin didn't expire after a month. I feel guilty every time I throw out that bottle that's still 3/4 full. How ineffective is it after 30 days, anyway?