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By shannon, March 9, 2010 10:28 am

There are a few things I want to write about today, but they’re not really interconnected.  So, I’m going to just jump from topic to topic.  Try to keep up

Today, I see Dr. S.  I’m not looking forward to getting my A1c because I know it’s going to be higher than last time.  I just hope it’s under 7% so that the baby progress can continue.  I’m strongly considering going back on Symlin.  I took it once before and had awful nausea, but I didn’t really give it a chance.  I stopped after a few days – mostly because we decided to start “actively trying to conceive,” which meant no Symlin.  Frankly, I wasn’t sorry to see it go. 

But now, I’m really trying to lose weight.  It’s my primary goal and I feel like I’m fighting a losing battle.  I’ve got HUGE genetic factors working against me.  On my father’s side, which is the side I take after, there is not a single person under 200lbs.  I’ve always had to fight my body’s natural inclination to be heavy, but now I need a little extra help. 

The other benefit of Symlin is that it will help to reduce those spikes I get after meals AND reduce my TDD.  So, if I can handle a couple of weeks of nausea, I think it would probably help me.  I’m not looking forward to a form of MDI again, but I’ll deal.

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Next, I want to talk about Roddy Pippin.  We had some good news in our fight last week.  The Warden of the Jester III prison granted Roddy a few considerations:

1. He would be allowed to attend Sunday worship services – something he’s been denied since December.
2. He would have access to a telephone.
3. He would be allowed to change channels on the television in the infirmary (this one isn’t all that big of a deal since Roddy isn’t a TV watcher).

Unfortunately, these considerations were short-lived.  The prison P.A. said No more – “No more worship service for Pippin!  And no recreation, no law library, etc.”  The P.A. also said “Pippin is NOT allowed to leave the prison solitary confinement for the next 3 years and 8 months!”  This is not a disciplinary case issue.  So, we know that the prison P.A. is in cahoots with the D.A., but the question I have is this:  Does the P.A. have more power than the Warden?  Evidently, she does. 

There was a recent AP article done on Roddy.  While I initially liked the tone of the article, I don’t like what various publications did with it.  One, in particular, was the Dallas Morning News.  They created a headline that was not at all relevant to the article.  They did this to incite anger in their readers, and they succeeded.  I spent some time trying to respond to the nasty comments that followed the article, but most people were content believing a bunch of lies and exaggerations.  I’ve learned that it’s a losing battle with the press.  Unless/until the story breaks out of Texas journalism, it will never be told truthfully.

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Last, I want to talk about the unbelievable liar my body is making me out to be.  I sat in Dr. T.’s office last week (ironically the day my period was due) and told her how “regular” I am.  Hell, I am more reliable than a calendar.  Until this month.  I am now officially one week late.  I’m not-so-patiently waiting to have all of these tests done, which are dependent on my period.  But my period is MIA.  It’s so frustrating.

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By shannon, December 15, 2009 9:16 am

I saw a segment on Fox and Friends last weekend that made me smile.  Komar, a privately held intimate apparel company (they make pjs, loungewear, bras, and lingerie), launched PJs for the Cure.  From the website:

Komar, the largest sleepwear and intimate apparel manufacturer in the United States, created PJs for the Cure to benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) and kick-off National Diabetes Month. In an effort to effectively support the Foundation, Komar has chosen to take an active role and do what they do best— design,  produce, and sell women’s and children’s pajamas to raise money to help find a cure for type 1 diabetes. This program is unique in that Komar is donating 100% of every sale to JDRF to fund further research for a cure for this chronic disease that predominately strikes in childhood. The goal is to raise $1 million for JDRF by selling comfy cotton pajamas, available just in time for holiday giving.

The inspiration for PJs for the Cure originated with Charlie Komar, President & CEO of the 101 year old family company. Charlie explains, “In 1990, my wife, Liz, was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes. She was suddenly completely dependent upon synthetic insulin to keep her alive. She checks her blood sugar levels several times a day and is very careful of her eating habits and activities to ensure that she does not fall into a diabetic coma or worse. The realization of how serious her condition is and the dangers associated with it completely changed our lives.

“Shortly after Liz’s diagnosis, our family including our two young sons participated in “Ride for the Cure,” an eleven mile bike ride through New Jersey. Our son, Matty, three years old at the time, insisted on riding the entire eleven miles for the cause. Afterward, Matty saw Liz giving herself an insulin injection and burst into tears. ‘You mean I rode all that way and you still have it,’ he cried. ‘I thought you would be cured!’

“At the time, I was certain a cure was around the corner. Nineteen years later, Liz still has diabetes, though the treatment has advanced to include an insulin pump that has greatly eased her daily routine. Luckily, type 1 diabetes is largely not hereditary and Matty, now 22, is racing mountain bikes. There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do to help my wife and the millions of other sufferers of this terrible disease.”

My hat is off to Komar, and I’m ordering myself some comfy PJs today (I LOVE PJs!).  I suggest you all do the same!

Comments (3)

By shannon, November 8, 2009 4:05 pm

Well, obviously not.  Because there is no cure for diabetes.  But have you ever had one of those weird periods of super insulin sensitivity?  You know, when you need like one unit to cover an entire hot fudge sundae or little-to-no basal insulin for three days?  This happens to me a few times per year, and each time, I wonder if my pancreas has made a sudden resurrection.  I experience this unrealistic hope that maybe I don’t really have type 1 diabetes.  Maybe these past 10 years were all one big mistake.  Maybe a “normal” life is really attainable.

Then, like a big slap in the face, I’m back to full-blown diabetes, often running high for several days.  So, with my pump riding on my hip like gunslinger’s pistol, I fight the good fight against this often invisible villain.  And I wait.  For a cure.

Until a cure is found, I’m going to do my part to make diabetes a little less invisible.  This Friday, in honor of Diabetes Awareness Month, Brian and I will each wear D-related t-shirts to work.  I love his, but mine is pretty good, too.

My D-Awareness T-Shirt

Brian's D-Awareness T-Shirt