Tag Archives: ketones

09Mar / 2013

Up & up

This is where I feel anxiety as well as an immobile lump of Irish soda bread with marmalade

The upper gut is where I feel anxiety as well as an immobile lump of Irish soda bread with marmalade.

Soon as think I’ve finally outgrown pimples! Zit. Soon as I made it through the winter without getting chunky! Irish soda bread season begin. Soon as notice He has ketones, but look at me handling it so calmly like a mother from a story. Freak out knot in stomach.

Two tens and a seven

Two tens and a seven: 3 of the 7 kids we eat dinner with sometimes have March birthdays so we had cake. Singing, no candles.

Remind self deep breath. Remind self pause, locate physical space feel anxiety. Picture glowing energy ball bathe anxiety loving light. Not work. This Bigfoot story. (All dates on meter wrong bc never bother fix after February 29.)

#1 Yesterday Evening Poop Cake

Super talented friend create birthday cake w. realistic dog poops decoration. Bubs have medium-small piece but maybe bad SWAG g CHO b.c. later BG mayhem. Also ate: chicken satay/no sauce & 1/4c pad thai.

#2 After cake

Normal BG soon after eating cake. Good. But of course we will check again before we go to bed, just to confirm the awesomeness of our poop cake SWAG

Good job, Morons! Plan to check again before we go to bed, just to confirm the awesomeness of our poop cake SWAG

#3 High.

11:17PM 252. Correction bolus.

11:17PM. Correction bolus.

#4 Still high.

1:09AM Still high.

1:09AM. Change site/correction with syringe

#5 All better.

2:30AM Everything's set. Joe finally goes to sleep.

2:30AM Everything’s set. Joe finally goes to sleep. I think he watched Breaking Dawn II.

#6 Mommy, can you make me a pancake? Did you test yet? I’m 348! 148? No, 348! 48? No, 348.

The fuck?

The f? We know the insulin works, the new site works, he didn’t eat anything in bed, his hands are clean.

#7 Ketones: blood meter 0.7. That noteworthy but not very ketone. Pee strip proclaim: small.

#8 Correction with syringe. Pancake with insulin. Water. Last basketball game of season in 20 minutes.

#9 Higher. 397. You’re higher. I’m sorry! You don’t need to be sorry. I’m sorry. Do you feel like playing? Yeah, I feel fine! Okay, but all that insulin is probably about to start working so if you start to feel low, come right over to me even if you’re in the middle of a play. I feel fine! Are you sure you feel okay? Bye, Momma!

Just before the game: 397. Higher, but also quite soon after eating so maybe...

Just before the game

#10 After play one ten minute quarter, higher still: 446. You’re higher. I feel fine! Do you—I guess I could—can I check your (realize uncouth check bum site in crowded gymnasium)—I guess I’ll do another correction, but just be so so so so careful if you feel low please just stop playing. No, you know what, let’s go in the bathroom or out to the car and change your site. No, Momma, I’m fine. Please…I’m fine. Okay. Actually I feel kind of sick. Can you tell the coach I need to leave? I think I’m sick. I feel icky. I feel just like…ick.

#11 Tell coach. Walk out. Father who look just like Cam from Modern Family complete w. contrast shirt cuffs follow: you dropped something! It a dog poo bag. Dog poo bag…dog poo cake. Bigfoot say, “Oh, thanks! It’s a dog poo bag.” Cam II horrified. “It’s clean!” Why so much dog poo this story? Maybe a clue

#12 At home. Test ketones pee strip (bc. really just need to know if larger). Lovely peach melba shade of small-medium. Decide not change site, instead Dr. Bfoot prescribe play Minecraft one hour, post anxiety post, then test, then decide next thing.

#13 One Hour Later, i.e. Now

IMG_6399

250, I never thought I’d say this, but you are gorgeous.

#14 Still want know w t f happen

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19Feb / 2013

The Elusive Green Box

Twelve cents! Why bother?

Twelve cents.

Not want sound ungrateful. But. Some Rx questions arise.

#1: 2013 Bigfoot insurance not cover syringes/needle tips from pharmacy. Must use durable medical equipment supplier. But unable figure out how use durable medical equipment supplier. And since these items not expensive, and only need one time for have on hand in case pump failure, fill Rx at pharmacy.

Today notice BCBSRI chip in twelve cents for syringes. Foolhardy ask why. But why? And thank you.

#2: Bigfoot family insurance plan super-high deductible, amount of deductible loaded on to HSA Visa card for use pay every medical thing until meet deductible. (Pretty neat!) It only February. Close, but not yet meet deductible. So expect pay full cost every Rx, every appointment, etc. So very puzzling why Glucagon (2 sets, $290) come w. copay instead of pay whole thing? And why copay so high? ($60! Last time was $5.)

Yes it is. No it isn't. Yes it is. Maybe it isn't. Maybe it is. We'll get back to you.

Yes it is. No it isn’t. Yes it is. Maybe it isn’t. Maybe it is. We’ll get back to you.

#3: Ketone items arrive with note, “This medication is not covered by your insurance.” Pee strips + blood strips alike. Why this change? Bigfoot call BCBSRI ask why no more cover ketone tools. On hold forever. BSBCRI say CVS wrong, ketone blood strips are covered; pee strips not covered because OTC. CVS say BCBSRI told them blood ketone strips also no covered. BCBSRI then say, “things are denying incorrectly.” (Clever use passive voice!) Then ask, “How many kinds of Lantus does your son use?” and “Do you care if it’s the NovaMax Plus Ketone or the NovaMax Gluc?” and “I bet they’ll put an override on this in research.” These statements not inspire confidence. Then BCBSRI say no claims on Bigfoot file, impossible Bigfoot Spouse pick up items today. And yet. Here these items right before Bigfoot eyes.

Photo1-6

$2.50 a strip and worth it. (But I’d rather pay zero.)

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11Feb / 2013

Nemo + Mysterious Magic Marker Smell

NEMO

Don't cry for me. Joe did all of this D-work last night. Cry for me because I have a cold.

Don’t cry for me. Joe did all of this D-sleuthing last night. And actually you can cry for me, because I have a cold**.

Usually snow = low BG because ski/sled/general snow play. Blizzard Nemo = opposite problem.

  • Trapped inside, less active?
  • Bad site after bad site?
  • Room-temperature insulin too cold because power out; ergo bubbles?
  • Mother has cold; high BG = Bubs will have cold too?
  • So many kachunkers in trash. Maybe 2x/day. Maybe over-kachunking causing own set problems?

So far Bubs cheerful despite high, but not interested play outside. Now snow verging on rainy, very yuck.

Also yuck: lately reading smart, young D-people w. complications. Yuck. Hate. Pretty much put complications out of mind. Now scuttling back into front page part of mind.

Today power back on, so much Just Dance. So much. Eat oatmeal, bolus, please dance more.

Every Just Dance song feel like taunting love ballad diabetes; this peppy tune “she” = Bigfoot and “me” = The big D.

She’s got me dancin’
She’s got me dancin’
She’s got me dancin
And she’s always one step behind

Still like song though.
"Forget" You.

“Forget” You.

**It’s pretty serious: I didn’t even watch Downton Abbey last night. But I did see this, and really recommend it!

MAGIC MARKER SMELL

Meanwhile, just before blizzard, hustle Bubs into pediatrician because for past few nights, smell like magic markers but no ketones. Endocrinologist recommend visit pediatrician in case stomach bug. Pediatrician physician assistant listen belly, lungs, all normal. Check tonsils, normal.
PHYSICIAN’S ASSISTANT: Have you checked his sugar today?
BUBS: (looks at Bigfoot, perplexed. The time was 10AM)
BIGFOOT: Yes…
PA: What was it?
BIGFOOT: It was 140 when he got up this morning
BUBS: 141
PA: That’s great! Is it always so good? I mean 140, 141, that is fantastic! He has pretty good control, I can tell you that
BF: Well, you know, the number is always changing (knows it’s not appropriate/possible to educate the PA but can’t help herself from grasping for approval), but his last A1c was six point zero
PA: His what?
BF: His A1c (ashamed now for the brag)
PA: His hemoglobin A1c?
BF: (notes to self: find out about other kinds of A1c) Yes
PA: And that’s pretty good? Right? And with that 140 this morning, I’d say you have nothing to worry about. And the magic marker smell, do you smell it right now? Because I don’t smell anything
BF: No, I smell it more at night. And Joe can smell it, and Jack can smell it. It’s very apparent
PA: Well, if there’s anything to it, if it comes back, I mean I hate to send you back and forth like a ping ping ball, but I’d take the issue back to the endocrinologist, because it would definitely be something metabolic

???

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17Nov / 2012

RIDDLE: What works better when you don’t leave it in a bag?

I feel fine. Can we play Minecraft?

Bubs date w friend. Pizza dinner, then swim, then sleepover. In tent. In living room. Mid-swim: 83. 9PM 107. 11PM 104. Bigfoot, Bigfoot Spouse decide OK sleep, convinced more worried delayed pizza high than delayed swimming low. Not vigorous swimming. More just stand in water, shoot hoops. Also creepy if hover around children in tent. Sorry if sound defensive.

7AM. Mom! Can you make Peter and me some pancakes? (Sure. Did you test?) Rumble rumble down stairs. Rumble rumble back up. I’m 322! And I don’t have my pump on and it’s not in the tent!
Possible scenarios:
  • The tent sleepover was so exciting he sort of sleepwalked out of his pump and sleepwalk-placed it somewhere weird
  • The pump IS attached and this is one fucker of a delayed pizza high
  • The friend is not actually a friend but a follower of Abu Nazir, and needed the pump to make a bomb
  • B somehow wiggled out of the Spibelt and it’s at the bottom of his sleeping bag and he just didn’t search very thoroughly

Then realize: pump still in swim bag. Blood drain from head, gather in gut. Bigfoot not give back after swim. No insulin since 7:15PM. 12 hours. Amazing only 322? Consider for moment, maybe would be dangerously low if did wear pump overnight? Then exit Pollyanna town, test ketones.

LARGE.

Call endo answering service. “She will get back to you within the hour.” Meanwhile, BSpouse syringe 3u, water bottle. Bubs feel fine, Minecraft with friend. Endo call back within 5 minutes. Bigfoot explain no pump since about 7PM. Endo prescribe 3u more. Water. Warn, “He’s probably going to start to feel very sick.” Bigfoot ask OK eat normal breakfast? Answer: yes, and don’t worry about covering the carbs with more insulin.  Ask: even if pancakes? “We can deal with his blood sugar later–for now we just want to clear those ketones.” Bigfoot ask: So, no basketball at 10 o’clock? Answer

  • check with the blood ketone meter at 9:30 and call me back
  • Maybe they’ll be clear
  • I’m surprised that he doesn’t feel sick; that shows us that he hasn’t had them in his bloodstream for very long
  • Maybe he’ll be able to play

Check out the gleam of the un-weighed, liberally poured maple syrup remaining on the (also un-weighed) plate.

Okay. Make pancakes, ignore batter label Bigfoot make for self last night: 12g CHO per 5″ cake. Make all sizes, teeny tiny, big as face. Freedom. Any size pancake. Also not weigh syrup. Probably eat 60g CHO. 6u insulin inject for ketone can multi-task also handle carbs? Or insulin power used up on eradicate ketones? Would use >6u for 60g CHO, anyway. Because I:C ratio for breakfast lately 1:8. Really think need more insulin. This crazy.

Call endo back, rambling message high carb breakfast…would need even more than 6 units just to cover the carbs…feel weird not giving more insulin…

Call right back. Turn out insulin work ketone/carb same time (huzzah!) but wait more insulin because risk too fast drop, not want “bottom out.” Also turn out, even though endo hear Bigfoot say pancake breakfast, endo not believe Bubs really eat. Because assume will begin sick. That so nice endo explain why wrong dose. Say “I’ll make a note in his chart that he doesn’t necessarily feel nauseated with large ketones.” If trace or negative, can play basketball. If moderate/large: no. Even if he feels fine? Yeah, no, we don’t like kids running around with moderate to large ketones. Call in one hour w. blood ketone meter result, BG#.

Ho hum.

Meanwhile, Bubs begin feel sick. But sick in way ask for more food. Confuse nausea w hunger? Tell Bubs wait eat until after next endo call. Lie on floor w Lego. Ask: do you think you’ll want to go to basketball? Answer: No.

BIGFOOT: Well, if you’re sure we’re not going, then I’m going to start baking that cake

BUBS: What cake?

BIGFOOT: The applesauce bundt cake

BUBS: (Jumps up, smiling) Because of my ketones?

BIGFOOT: No, because we’re going to the _____  house for dinner and I said I would bring it

BUBS: They have a pellet gun! They let me shoot it at their metal chickens!

Not seem sick.

I can’t believe we go away with our biggest eff up to date. (That title previously held by Joe, for telling the Sunday school teacher to give B. hypo-earmarked Skittles at snack time.)

9:30AM 400. Ketones: LO. Call endo. Instruction: correct for high BG as usual, just keep careful eye on BG rest of day…ketones can make insulin resistant…etc. Endo end instructions with you guys did a great job. You know, with a pump, these things happen; it can get disconnected, and unfortunately that can happen, but you guys were great–you caught it before he got really sick. Consider tell endo: not random disconnect. It Bigfoot leave in swim bag. Decide not confess, because why put endo awkward position absolve parent guilt? That what blog for.

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06Sep / 2012

Convenient.

I’d thought one of the symbols in green, yellow, and red on the outside of the condom strip wrapper would show up as ketone results. Instead you get LO (good), a number (probably pretty bad), or HI (bad for sure.) 

How convenient Bill Clinton speak so long DNC, perfect timing for recheck blood sugar make sure go down. 10PM 189, tiny correction. Bigfoot confident will be closer 120 after rousing, comprehensive speech. Instead get this whopper: 280.

How convenient ketone meter blood test strips arrive CVS yesterday. Not need confront splashy pee/sleeping child. It walk in park.

How convenient each strip individual wrapper—>NovaMaxPlus know Bigfoot not plan use often, wish preserve/not stale. So convenient this meter work just like glucometer. Not need new moves.

How inconvenient meter count down from ten. Ten! Bigfoot not accustom this level suspense. It forever. 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1:

LO.

The symbols are to help you determine how bad to feel when you get a numerical result.

How convenient result in English word not numeral. However still not know how feel about…LO? LO mean trace? LO mean low battery? Look in guide. LO mean zero or so minscule ketone meter not able measure number. Huzzah. LO.

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03Sep / 2012

What Tone

Yesterday morning wake up 329 + ketones. Pee strip change color pinkish—not believe eyes.

BUBS: (from bathroom) I have ketones

BIGFOOT: (from kitchen) He has ketones!

BIGFOOT SPOUSE: (from hallway) No way!

JACK: (silently continues reading Sports Illustrated)

BUTTER: Woof (to dog walking by)

Peanut Butter Puffins in milky black tea may or may not have been essential players in the quick exit of the ketones

This first time for ketones. Except for diagnosis day. Not remember what do, except not call on-call doctor unless “Moderate” or higher. Then remember not exercise. Also remember: need food, need insulin so body stop eating itself. Also remember drink extra water so ketones exit via pee. Post facebook query Bigfoot page (hi) because not able face Pink Panther. Facebook so helpful. Smart persons recommend additional measure: crank temp basal = pro move. Also enjoy empathic, measured tone this page from Diabetes New Zealand. In general, find not much to it. Not need different insulin/anything crazy like that.

Change site. Open freshie. Big correction via syringe. Then ask Bubs (feel fine, happy) spend hours on sofa w Minecraft + water bottle on lovely end-of-summer day.

Meanwhile, 1 hour later (8AM) check again. BG 568 <—not sure, but maybe highest ever; ketones match color for moderate. Bigfoot call on call doctor pager, because think ketones probably barreling toward large and Minecraft/water/sofa not effective treatment. Notice tight gut feeling of nervous.

New doctor call back. Super nice. Sound young. Native speaker, no Rhode Island accent. Female. Probably Brown University medical school student. Say things like, Wow, I’m actually really impressed that you’ve changed the site twice and opened a fresh bottle of insulin and gave a correction via syringe. That’s perfect. You’re doing everything right. (That among Bigfoot favorite phrase—really like this doctor.)

But doctor not realize until end conversation need write down patient name/order of events for medical record. So nice! As if so enthusiastic just waiting by phone, hoping for call, so excited real-life situation, forget take notes. After review notes, add Hmmmm, one thing I’d have done differently if you had called before giving the five units by syringe, is that I think I would have said to give him seven. So if you don’t mind…I think you should give him two more units. Bigfoot ask By syringe or can I  use the pump, since it’s a new site? Fresh happy young doctor say Yeah, sorry. By syringe. Just so we can be 100% sure it’s going in. You know? If he doesn’t mind too much. I know it’s a pain. Bigfoot say actually no problem, Bubs not mind because happy play Minecraft. Doctor final instruction: check BG, ketones again two hours, call back if not improve.

When check for new data (sooner than directed, bc such suspense) 9:30AM ketones: trace. BG: 332. That right direction. 11AM 118. 11:45 55 (whoops, Skittles). Ketones: negative.

CVS pharmacy order blood ketone meter strips, very exotic, not in stock. Bigfoot grateful arrive soon. Now know for fact ketones not mere legend, Ketostix really get on nerves. One problem is colors: why scale like Crayola fleshtones of children of the world? Could range periwinkle through indigo. Could go chartreuse through lime rind. Current scale too fleshy: Caucasian, embarrassed, sunburned, sunburned Native American, Aboriginal Australian.

Also language. Descriptors for scale in mishmash. Bigfoot think Ketostix need choose: this about SIZE or DEGREE? Why not infinitesimal, small, medium, large OR trace, barely significant, moderate, extreme? Current language not allow Bigfoot coherent vision: ketones actually grow larger, like pingpong vs. softball, or just increase in number, like full bowl cereal vs. two Cheerio floating in milk after eat?

Meanwhile all that, Bubs so jolly diabetes. This actual quote—part sad/naive, part Zen master/inspiring sick child:

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07May / 2012

In Night Kitchen

Say, these look like sanitary conditions for high-end mini bagel baking

5PM: 121 (early dinner out w/friends + no food later.)

9PM: 111 (obligatory baby fist pump)

12AM: 357/correction bolus a la Bigfoot Spouse

3AM: 347/WTF? Correction bolus redux <—how come 12AM correction no effect? Pump site change before dinner, work OK then. Or if no 12AM correction, would be 450+? Bubs wake Mama, can I please have a drink? (Love when wake up middle of night not furious!) Bigfoot sure honey, I’ll bring you a glass of water. Bubs since you have that headlamp, can you just walk me to the bathroom? I want to drink kind of a lot. (This so bad high blood sugar, willing leave cozy bed for water access?) Delicately navigate Lego-encrusted floor. In bathroom Bubs let’s just turn the light on. When I drink this much water then I like to pee. Bubs flick on light, light in Bigfoot brain turn on too: need check ketones.

The high tone ingredients.

Bigfoot hate check ketones: it the splashy pee. But not afraid. Check ketones pro forma. Bubs never-never-never have ketones. Not know protocol ketones. Would need look up in book (cue Pink Panther theme)/call Coro Center. But notice blood sugar segment of strip not change color like wildfire. Change lazily, grow wee bit darker, then darker. Usually if high BS, color change same speed paper towel absorb big spill or same speed blood drain from face before pass out. Maybe meter wrong. Maybe One Touch strips go bad. Maybe error at ketone strips factory.

No ketones.

Since need stay awake, make Isa Chandra Moskowitz bagels. (This link say 3T sugar, but Vegan Brunch/Bigfoot memory 2T. Think 3T typo.) Bigfoot make mini-size, 20g carbs. Meant do this all weekend. Baking perfect hobby for night time diabetes parent, except for resulting abundant baked goods. If Bigfoot house North Korea + diabetes Kim Jong Un or Il, could say glorious leader provide miracle opportunity make 18 36 (double recipe) mini bagel.

4:30AM: 247

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19Sep / 2011

386 <—abominable

A keytone---not actual size.

386. This a very high blood sugar, and it Bubs’s before dinner today. This following URI Political Science 50th Anniversary Party.

Ask Bubs to pee on a strip—he look so worried. “Am I going to have ketones?” Tell him well, we’ll see. Bigfoot spouse and Bigfoot follow Bubs to toilet. Hover-hover-hover. Count fifteen seconds, see ketone portion of strip not change from color of 1970s stewardess Avon foundation makeup. Blood sugar portion of strip change color like gangbusters, but doctor administering Chuckydoll study say ignore that bit.

This mean blood sugar meter not working—wait, or—possible have blood sugar this high with no ketones? Not even Trace Ketones or Small Ketones. Something wrong.

Also, why blood sugar high after URI party? Give plenty insulin cover University Dining Services BBQ chicken, Diet Dr. Pepper, 2″ square bakery sheetcake and 3″ x 2″ brownie. Bigfoot consult multiple entries on MyFitnessPal, obtain data feel confident, do injection. Maybe problem is Bigfoot and Bigfoot spouse not clear on size of imperial inch. Maybe Bubs getting flu.

Coincidentally as Bigfoot first consider this possibility, Jack ask, “What’s that disease, it sounds like Illinois?” Bigfoot know what he mean immediately, “Pneumonia?” But Bigfoot not psychic—it proven fact. Last week in Shaw’s have strong urge buy loathed Rhode Island Lottery Scratch Ticket. Theme baseball. Feel very drawn to this, even though hate whole scratch ticket scene. Decide follow intuition. Bigfoot team score FIVE. Opponent score SIX.

Bigfoot never enjoy University parties, only attend because father-in-law very popular professor retiring, many people make speech about he so awesome. These parties full of 1960′s era women who think it a shame Bigfoot not have big career in traditionally masculine field. During party recap/recovery time Bigfoot spouse ask, Who in particular do you mean? What did they say to make you think this? Bigfoot think only of one woman, not even in Political Science department, incident circa 2005, Bigfoot never recover, maybe overgeneralize about this demographic. Basis maybe not sound, but feeling still true.

Butter resting in shrub with alter ego, Trace, the crackerjack hypoglycemic awareness dog.

Bubs and Bigfoot begin research hypoglycemic awareness dogs. Seem exclusive South Dakota, Colorado, Northern California, and Virginia. This interesting to know. Why South Dakota so advanced? Probably because drink so much factory farm cow milk.

Also learn there no license for service dog accompany person into library, cafe, etc. Tempted pretend Butter a diabetes dog, get him little vest, take him places. Too bad he have history bite mailman. Maybe he go by pseudonym in public No, this isn’t Butter, this is Trace Ketones, our diabetes dog. Please don’t pat him. He’s working.

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Bigfoot say other thing

Bigfoot sure this not right placement Pinterest button

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