Happy Thanksgiving

Woke up about 6am and started coffee and the sweet potatoes.  It is now 8:45 and I am still the only one awake!  It is quiet and I am enjoying the peace.  Living here seems like a dream. I believe we will eat the big meal around 5:00 or so.  The turkey will take 4 hours.  Since it is just the 4 of us, there is no pressure to eat at a certain time.  Besides cooking, who knows what the day will bring.  There is a log down in the creek that needs to be cut up and moved. The run-in for the horses needs to get completed too.  Since we do not have TV, the day is ours to do what we will.  Shortly, I will venture to the barn and let the chickens out, as well as walk up the lane to get the paper.

I hope everyone finds something to be thankful for this special day.

Research Purpose

As I reflect on my experience this weekend, I am grateful that I was able to be a part of this fantastic study.  I have NEVER been able to take some time just to focus on my diabetes.  I am thinking this is what camp would be like.  Anyway,  the study is through NIH, as well, and they are developing an artificial pancreas.  When I return in December, I will be wearing an evolving version of an artificial pancreas.

Day 3 - UVA Basal Rate Research Trial

Upon waking, I felt better physically than the day before, just tired.  I ate breakfast and we headed to the gym.  I completed the exercise easily and then returned to the research house where I ate lunch.  Oh, I forgot, I was given a Fitbit to use for the 30 days and instructed on how to download it as well as the blind CGM and my pump for additional data.  The great thing about this study is 3 doctors, IT technicians and more were watching my data live on a computer the entire time I was in the study.  I did get to nap this afternoon before leaving the research house.  I returned home with their CGM, glucometer and a Fitbit.  Each Tuesday I am to download everything onto the computer, including my Verio pump.  The data will be collected until Dec. 18, when I will return for the final part of the study.  It is my understanding that at this point I will be fitted with a device that will automatically manage my diabetes based on the test results.  I am intrigued to see what happens.  I am very tired tonight and look forward to sleeping in my own bed.  

Day 2 UVA Basal Rate Study

Technology can be great and then again, it can have shortcomings.  I was hooked up to all of the devices yesterday and for some reason my sugars went to 300.  This meant I was awakened many times during the night for blood sugar readings and blousing to cover them as well as encouraged to drink water.  By morning the readings still had not come down and I was beginning to suffer from the highs.  I awoke at 6:50 and was not able to eat until 9:30 because we were waiting for me to respond to insulin on board.  Once the doctor got here, we agreed that I should take an injection.  The injection, water and Pedialite helped me to begin to respond.  I really did not think I would be able to continue with the day's activities, but alas, I started feeling less nauseous and my ketones reduced.  Onto the exercise portion of the study,...  This went very well.  I rode a stationary bike at a gym for 3 15 minute intervals with a 5 minute rest in between.  My heart rate needed to get as close to 140 as I could maintain through the 15 minutes.  It felt good once I got through the first session.  I struggled with that one being that I had such high sugars.  Once we completed the exercise we had to wait for a taxi that did not show so we walked back to the research house.  My sugars have been much more stable through the day.  The CGM refused to function properly so we reinserted the sensor and calibrated it.  Dinner is minutes away now,...  Let's hope the evening goes smoothly and I can get a good night's rest.  The evening did not go as smoothly as I would have liked.  My Nokia for dinner when I counted my carbs was to be 9 units.  I have never taken that much insulin for a meal!  After the highs the night before, I was convinced to take the 9 units as I trusted they were watching me very closely.  I knew the exercise would keep my sugars down.  After 2 hours, I dropped and from that point through the evening, I had to treat for low blood sugars.  Even through the night.  

T1D Research Weekend at UVA

Today I entered the beginning of a 30 day research trial for optimum basal rates for the artificial pancreas.  This trial is being held in Charlottesville.  I stay this weekend with the team and complete the trial Dec. 18-20.  So far, so good.  I have applied their CGM, insulin pump and been given a phone as a remote for the pump.  As I go through this trial, I will keep you updated with information. Any out there who are interested in participating, let me know.  The trial runs through March, which means the last group will begin in February.  The more people who are involved, the better data.  I can pass your name along to the study coordinator.  I hope to not only provide the researchers with data, but to also optimize my pump and its many functions so I can be the healthiest I can be.

So far the staff has been great!  I am connected to a system that everyone can watch my CGM, but me.  They will monitor me at all times.  This entire process is very interesting.

As for the rest of life, we moved to Churchville, VA, Oct. 2014.  After 6 weeks in our new/old house, we became sick and learned the house had black mold to the extent that it had to be torn down.  We rented a house in Staunton, VA and built a house with a wonderful builder.  Last Thursday, we moved into our new house!  As much as I would love to be able to help more with organizing and settling into the new house,  my husband and I believe this study is valuable for the diabetic community, so here I am,...   Some of the things we appreciate having again in our new house, a dishwasher, a flat sink, good quality washer and dryer, a gas stove, a large refrigerator and best of all living on our property, finally, and waking up to the views out of every window.