I've been helped so immensely by you guys! I'd love to hear any and all folksy/science-y diabetic tips eg THINGS THE DOCTORS DON'T KNOW, WOULDN'T CARE ABOUT. Post em if you got em!
- if your dexcom sensor expires before the 7 days, try restarting it with the same sensor. If it seems to be working, keep it in for the remainder
- cut off the top half of a tube sock and put it on your calf (or thigh if you're skinny) to clip your pump to under a dress with no waistband
- portion control/carb counting
Average adult’s fist = 1 cup Baseball = 1 cup
Child’s fist = 1/2 cup
Cupped hand = 1/2 cup
Deck of cards = 1/3 cup
Half-pint of milk = 1 cup
12-ounce soft drink can = 1 1/2 cups
Oooh geeez, there's a lot of these. I don't ever measure a lot of stuff by volume. When I got my pump, I got a scale and weight stuff I want to measure.
I carry around a ziplock bag of smarties and haribo raspberries and sour cherries. none of which are good enough to wanna eat but not so gross that I can’t stomach em!
I keep sweet tarts or other small candies in old Rx containers. (I peel off the old labels, and add my own) Have them all over the house, and under my pillow. When I leave the house, always make sure I have 1 or 2 with me.
I do that with OTC medications, except I keep them all jumbled together and don't put a label on them. Then everyone freaks out when they ask for Tylenol and I recognize the pill by its look...
I put a key ring on the zipper of the mesh case of my meter, so that it's super easy to open even with one hand.
I also use an Accu-Chek Aviva (I think) case for my OneTouch Ping meter and a Multiclix lancing device. It fits perfect but is about half the size of the giant case that comes with the Ping meter.
I always treat lows with nothing but liquids. It´s faster and more reliable than solid foods and is less likely to mess up my relationship with food. I always use regular sodas.
I´ve measured how many carbs I get for each sip I take. To do this I took a glass of water and a measuring cup. I drank and spit in the measuring cup and calulated carbs. This way I´m not freaked out when I´m getting low because I know exactly what it takes to get back in the safe area without thinking. Even though I´m shaky and sweaty and want to eat a whole farm, I´m able to calm myself and just sip from my soda.
When starting a new minimed reservoir, it pays to push left over insulin from the prior reservoir into the new tubing. Since this insulin was ready for use, you are filling the new one with insulin you are going to toss anyway. This saves maybe two to three units of the new reservoir's insulin. I always feel like I am getting the most i can from the new set that way.
if the set has a tendency to pull out base din use or just activity. you can strengthen the set by taking a bandage or tape piece, folding it in half and using the cap of the new or old set placing it on the fold line and cutting a half circle out of the middle of the bandage. This leave a hole big enough to fit around the of the bandage that slips nicely over the attachment point.
That means the bandage has additional adhesive to hold on during use. This is especially good for little ones who are pretty rough on their sets and have difficulty keeping them installed while playing.
With wear the mini med sensor for 7 days: when it hits END SENSOR (every three days) restart it as NEW SENSOR. The charge will wear down quickly on Day 7. Instead of using 118 sensors per year, you only need 52.
Insert the sensor before bed, without removing the old one. Then just charge the transmitter and the sensor will start up very quickly, as it has "wet" for a long time.
I change my pump set up every four days. So instead of a box of ten lasting a month, it lasts 40 days. So I need 9 boxes per year instead of 12.
Refrigerate sensors to prolong their life, especially in the summer heat.
I carry juice boxes in the car and on trips, but keep a mini glad ware with spice drops in my purse at all times. They are about 3 carbs each which makes it easy to calculate.
haha I tried to use those little lancing guys and they get lost in my giant bag. I love the walgreens brand one. I know I'll lose it before it breaks and it's not too expensive to replace
For folks on MDI, I used to swath my long term insulin in a lot of tape to be able to distinguish the bottles from each other by feel, especially in the dark or if I was just kinda spacey. I still can't believe they made levemir the same size as the short-acting insulins, as opposed to the taller bottle that lantus came in
