Day 2 – D-Blog Week

Click here for the The Cost of a Chronic Illness – Tuesday 5/16 Link List
Insulin and other diabetes medications and supplies can be costly.  Here in the US, insurance status and age (as in Medicare eligibility) can impact both the cost and coverage.  So today, let’s discuss how cost impacts our diabetes care.  Do you have advice to share?  For those outside the US, is cost a concern?  Are there other factors such as accessibility or education that cause barriers to your diabetes care?  (This topic was inspired by suggestions from Rick and Jen.)

I’m getting ready to transition to Medicare – and that scares the sh*t out of me.

Back to Medicare – I’m petrified. We’ve scheduled an appointment with a local woman (she sounds really young but was well recommended by a local insurance agent) to analyze and look at what we can do as far as plans – advantage, supplement, prescription. She said, “You’ll need to have a list of any prescriptions you use.” Poor girl – she’s going to be awed. (Or she might just run away from us!)

I NEVER thought I’d be working at my age. We both worked hard to make it possible to retire and enjoy our retirement. Diabetes brought that to a screeching halt. For new d-friends, I was dx’d at age 55. I’ve said I’d give up my pump before my Dexcom if given a choice. I know they’re approved now but – it looks like there will be some bumps before it, Dexcom, is totally available.

And… it truly and honestly bothers me immensely that there are people who are not able to afford the d-medications that they need to stay alive. Give me a break. NO ONE should be denied medications needed to STAY alive.

PS – I truly LOVE comments and I know everyone else does, too. But… I’m going to do comment catching up after D-Blog week. If I do comments now they’ll all say, “Nice!” or “Thank you for posting this.” I’m really looking forward to meeting new bloggers and catching up with some of “been around for some time” bloggers.

2016 Diabetes Blog Week – Wednesday

Click for the Language and Diabetes – Wednesday 5/18 Link List.
There is an old saying that states “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me”. I’m willing to bet we’ve all disagreed with this at some point, and especially when it comes to diabetes. Many advocate for the importance of using non-stigmatizing, inclusive and non-judgmental language when speaking about or to people with diabetes. For some, they don’t care, others care passionately. Where do you stand when it comes to “person with diabetes” versus “diabetic”, or “checking” blood sugar versus “testing”, or any of the tons of other examples? Let’s explore the power of words, but please remember to keep things respectful.

I used to worry about the words. I’m old enough now that most of the words don’t bother me.

So for today, I’m going to go spend some time reading and commenting!

Oh wait! Medicare & CGMS
Those two words (ok – those five words) are on my mind every single day.
Have you contacted your state government officials to let them know that it’s VERY important that Medicare approve CGMS’s?
Please take the time to do that. Please?

It’s easy!

Follow this link. And thank you!

http://jdrf.org/take-action/advocacy/cgm-medicare-coverage/

And – as much as I love comments – given a choice, please follow the link and contact your state’s government officials and SKIP leaving me a comment.

Thanks, again!

Colleen

 

Hello, It’s Me…

The song was popular in the early 70’s – 1972, to be exact.

Here’s the song – https://youtu.be/lLeCB7Kn-VE
I put it at the bottom of this post.

Here are the lyrics (for you younger d-people who think the 70’s are the old days – please remember that the Beatles and the Rolling Stones were the 60’s) – (And some of us were around for those…)
https://play.google.com/music/preview/Tkmzw3nu2aqyfawffhhnsgbby5i?

I very often think of the d-bloggers that I got to know when I was first diagnosed. OMG – I have Diabetes? Me? I was scared. I was angry. I was petrified. And there they all were – right there on my computer screen. It was very nice.

I have this terrible habit of speaking before I think. Commenting on blogs? Well, I’ve grown wiser with age and kept my mouth shut for a long time. I was a “lurker.” There was even a day for “unlurking.”  I really enjoy having all of these d-friends and know that I’m lucky to have found the DOC – Diabetes Online Community.

Back in the beginning, I spent a whole lot of time Googling terms I would read on the d-blogs.

What’s a basal? (Hint – not the plant you grow in your veggie garden.)

What’s a bolus? (Another hint – frequently seen as “I bloused 2 units for the cupcake,” because spell checks just don’t get bolusing – )

What’s MDI? (Multiple Daily Injections) It’s not an advanced degree – but it probably should be!

And now? Well – I’m pumping with an Animas Ping. I’m CGM’g (Continuous Glucose Monitor) with a Dexcom. And I’m writing letters to Senators and Representatives for their help in making CGMs available through Medicare. And – my preference is approval for Types 1 & 2.

So – since I’ve dusted this ole blog off (Thanks, Reyna!), I hope to find some new friends in addition to boring my old friends.

Oh – one more thing! I can spell Endocrinologist! Yay, me!

AND – we haven’t had to shovel any snow yet!

 

I miss blogging

I love all my DOC friends on Facebook. But..

I really miss blogging.

So, I’m going to try again.

Right – in December – I work at a church – I’m busy.

I’m still going to try again.

And – I haven’t had to shovel any snow, yet…

Working on writing up my info for those who are trying hard to get Medicare approval for CGMs. Then – I could retire!

And – after hitting publish – saw that this is #599 – so I guess #600 has to be a good one!

November? It’s done? I ate pancakes…

Diabetes Awareness Month kinda got by me this month.

I did not do the blog every day thing. The boringness of it would have driven any reader (and me!) nuts.

I wore my new blue circle necklace to work every day and if I was out and about. I had a whole “spiel” ready for when everyone would ask, “Oh, what a beautiful blue circle necklace! Tell me about it.” It didn’t happen.

I think next year I’m going to make a sign – “Ask me about my blue circle necklace!”

I did sign petitions and write senators/representatives. I did the Big Blue Test (not as often as I should have…). I did read others’ blogs.

And this morning? Just because? I ate pancakes (two of them) for the first time in a very, very long time. With syrup. I took a whole, whole lot of insulin. I had to do a couple of small corrections throughout the afternoon but… We were driving home from Cape Cod (where it had the audacity to snow while I was there…) and stopped for a late breakfast at an IHOP in Plymouth, Mass. I can’t tell you the last time I was at an IHOP. But, as I write this the BG is 70 something so I guess I’ll live.

My brother? The one whose doctor said “pre-diabetes?” Doing great – normal A1c.

My cousin? The one whose doctor said “Type 2 Diabetes?” Off meds and doing a great job with diet – exercise.

The naggy sister/cousin (that would be me…)? Quite pleased for both of them and very grateful for the Type 2 d-friends who take the time to write about their struggles and successes.

And – my younger sister announced she’s retiring early. Wanted to know why we weren’t doing the same. And I sat there with a straight face and said, “We can’t afford to because of my diabetes.”

So – help us get CGMs approved by Medicare so I’m not the oldest church secretary in history. (Although to be honest, church secretaries seem to hang on forever.) I don’t want to be in that office forever…

Hope your Thanksgiving was delicious – and your bg-s manageable! (If you live here and celebrated Thanksgiving…)