Just Call Me MacGyver

Last night we spent the night at my sister and brother-in-law's house.  We keep a small insulated bag stocked with d-supplies for trips like this-- we just have to add in the chilled insulin right before we leave the house and we're {usually} good to go.

I thought we were good until I went to change Rosie's site this morning and discovered that the bag was out of the blue plunger/ reservoir sets.  (OK, well, that's not their real name, but I can't think of it-- the blue thing we use to suck the insulin out of the bottle and put it into a new reservoir.  I'm a little more sleep deprived that usual...did I mention that I was up all night with my new baby niece and with Rosie being low? Seriously, it was pretty much once an hour either the baby was fussing or else Rosie's Dex was beeping!)

After checking the insulin left in her pump (nowhere near enough to make it back home) and weighing my options, I finally decided to try and use a syringe to refill her current reservoir as a temporary fix.  Slowly but surely, it worked-- I got enough insulin in it to last until we could get home and do a proper site change with a fresh reservoir.

I'm not recommending this by any means, but sometimes you've gotta do what you've gotta do!  ;)
 

Glucagon App

Ever worried that you might not remember how to use Glucagon in an emergency?  Do you tend to forget to fill your prescription and find expired Glucagons in your cabinet?  (Yeah, me too.)

There's a new app out from Lilly called, appropriately, Glucagon App.  It shows you how to use it in an emergency, allows you to virtually practice, reminds you to refill your prescrption, and more.

It looks like a great app to have, and I'd love to download it myself.  Unfortunately, it appears that it's only available for iPhones right now.  I'm hoping there's an Android version out soon.

I am in no way connected to this product and receive nothing for telling you about it... other than the satisfaction of passing along useful information.  
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Another Gray Ribbon

Not just a diabetes ribbon... it's also a brain cancer ribbon.  It turns out that they're both gray.  (I know, I know, diabetes also has a blue/gray one and the blue circle.)    

My sister was diagnosed last week with a large brain tumor/ cancer.  Surgery to remove the tumor went well, and the next step will be six months of chemo and radiation.  This was all very sudden and unexpected.

I usually keep this blog specifically about diabetes, but I had to take a moment to ask for your prayers for my sister.  My family has had a rough year-- my dad survived a heart attack, my mom survived kidney cancer, and now this... on top of our daily battle with Rosie's diabetes.   We appreciate any prayers you'd care to offer up--  thank you!
 

No Curveballs this Season

image source: The Principal's Posts

Has it really been a couple of months since I've posted?  Wow, time flies when you're counting carbs... or something like that.

We made it through another softball season with diabetes, and Rosie's team even won their league.  There were only a few games where Rosie had to sit out a bit and get some extra carbs.

It helps that Rosie has played on the same team for the past few years, so nobody pays much attention when she messes with her pump or sits down to gulp down a juice box.  Her coach is aware that if she wanders off the field to rummage in her bag, she's not just playing around, she needs carbs. We're comfortable enough there that she's even gone to a few practices without us sitting on the sidelines, and all was well.

I think we're finally feeling confident in the art balancing diabetes and softball season.  And yes, I realize that by putting that in writing, diabetes is sure to throw us some curveballs the next time Rosie sets foot on a field!