My Date with D

My diabetes and I took a leisurely 45 minute drive down 95 South to the office of Carol, RD, CDE and pump trainer extraordinaire. It's a gorgeous spring day here in Virginia, the boys were settled into school and day care, and I was excited to have some time to focus on "my first baby", diabetes. As anyone with more than one kid will tell you, you have to carve out some one-on-one time for each of them, or they get cranky.

I arrived at the office and settled in. We reviewed the info I had entered into the Cozmonitor software on my laptop. She answered questions, helped me make a few decisions, and stepped me through setting up the cartridge.

Features and options that seemed overwhelming a few weeks ago are now exciting. I think the trainer must have found me terribly goofy. I was enthused about the little things like reminders to check blood sugars and temp basals you give names, like "Walking" and "PMS". Periodically I would just stop and say, "That's so freakin' cool."

At one point, in reference to a procedure just learned, I said, "Piece of cake." I half expected the pump to suggest the appropriate bolus for a piece of cake.

I told the pump trainer about all you ne'er-do-wells who encouraged me to start it on my own, and she said I was very smart to wait. Because I enjoy being called "very smart", I agree with her.

We wrapped up after about an hour and a half, and my diabetes and I stepped out into the warm afternoon. We drove over to Panera and ordered a 1/2 sandwich, 1/2 salad combo, with an apple (for my diabetes). I used my laptop and their free wireless to look up the carb count for that meal before entering my bolus. It seemed silly to not pin down the carb value, since my fancy new pump will take it from there.

I'm looking forward to my next endo appointment and all the data I'll have to present. I have a few weeks of basal and carb-to-insulin ratio testing ahead of me, which should keep things fresh and lively. I hope the thrill of this new gadget doesn't wear off too soon!

On the drive home, the school nurse called with Jake in her office, complaining of a headache. My diabetes gave me a knowing look, realizing our quality time together was coming to an end for the day, and I stepped on the gas to get home just a few minutes faster.