San Francisco: Diabetes-Wise

After a near-as-damn-it strip search at San Francisco Airport Security; After a two hour delay caused by a "leaky pressure seal" and the wait for a new aircraft to arrive; After 10 hours wedged into a seat next to a continual snorer; After two of the best weeks of my life: I'm home!

I'm so excited that even though my jet-lagged body thinks it is the early hours of the morning, even though I have a suitcase full of dirty clothes to wash and even though I've not yet had chance to download and sort through many of the huge number of photos that I took, I want to launch right in with a full account. But I know that if I did it right now, I couldn't do it justice. If you are interested in a non-diabetes oriented account, and more pictures, they will come soon, but  now just a taster:

Diabetes-wise, I had a pretty good trip. I came a little unstuck but getting over my jet-lag a lot faster than I ever have before and failing to turn my pump clock back fast enough to keep pace, which led to a few swings in the first few days. But compared to doing a trip like this on MDI... no contest! My biggest problem came over the Easter weekend, when we took a drive down the coast on Highway 101. I filled my pump up that morning from a bottle of Humalog I'd been carrying in my backpack. It seems that the insulin in that bottle may have been no good. As we cruised down the coast, my blood sugars cruised between 11 and 16 (200 and 290) all day, which changing the set and injecting with a syringe failed to solve. I had only taken the same bottle of Humalog along with me, and certainly didn't feel terrible enough to warrant turning back. So I ran a  +70% temp basal all afternoon and filled the pump with new insulin that night, which solved the problem. These angry looking shots of the Pacific capture my mood towards diabetes that day, but I still had a great time.

We ate some great food, including this masterpiece at Horizons in Sausalito. I got the carbs way wrong. If anyone cares to guess my calculated value based on the insulin units finally required, answers on a postcard comment please...  We also ate at a fantastic place in the Mission called Andalu, which serves a modern take on Tapas; Small Plates. Small Plates dining is great for a social meal with friends and family, great for variety but terrible for carb counting, since most of the food isn't all on the table at one time, never mind on your plate. Let's just say I needed a couple of corrections after that one, but the delicious Strawberry Margheritas probably didn' help much!

I got my fix of junk too - Hershey's, Oreos and the much coveted Lucky Charms (yes, I know they turn the milk green, but they seem to have got around that by making a chocolate version, that turns the milk brown instead!) Fortunately, while this stuff isn't good for anyone, it is easy to bolus for pretty accurately, thanks to the standardised nutrition facts, which just aren't as good in the UK.

My favourite souvenir from the trip?

Yes. It is a box of Insets.

Before you fully establish that thought that I am totally crazy, let me give you the explanation. Insets are not available in the UK, due to some sort of problem with Medtronic. The Animas distributers in the UK are therefore only able to supply Comfort and Comfort Short sets. If you want a 90 degree infusion set, you need to order it from Medtronic, Roche or Smiths. The problem for me is that if I order from elsewhere, I have to pay full cost out of pocket. So I stick with Comforts, which I actually quite like, especially the Shorts. When I used to use Quick Sets I had far more set problems than I have ever had with Silhouettes or Comforts, but the 90 degree sets scar my skin, and so quite possibly the subcutaneous tissue, a lot less, and they seem to stick better when I go swimming. So when a friend offered to trade me a box of Insets (I took a box of Comforts back in return) I jumped at the chance. I really like them, but since I only have the one box, they will have to be a 'special occasion' set!

And my favourite welcome home package?

Which contained:

My brand new replacement pump. What more could I ask?

Comments

[Johnboy]

Caro, glad you made it back safely! Sounds like a really fun trip once you made it out of the airport!

[Tiffany]

Caro,

Welcome back!!! You have been missed...though you probably weren't missing us lol.

I am seriously jealous of you right now. The insets are not available in Canada, either, due to Health Canada once again bringing out the fiery hoops. Jump, doggy, jump! You will have to post your insights on this set so I know what to look forward to.

Can't wait for the non-D episode - and all posts to come!

[Megan]

After doing a trial on the comfort, I am using insets now and love them! I got green though. Hopefully they will be availible in Europe soon.

[Caro]

JB - the airport is always the worst part of any trip!

Tiffany - Good to see you back! I'll give you my 'Insight on Insets' when I've used a couple more. It may not be Health Canada that is at fault. They're not available in Europe due to some sort of legal restriction brought on be Medtronic: The same may apply.

You'll have to wait a bit longer for the non-D episode of my San Francisco trip. Life has been very hectic since I got back!

Megan - I like the fact the Insets come in different colours, it's a nice touch. I ended up with Grey, but I think blue would be my favourite!

[bettercell]

Hello caro....Thanks for your feedback on my site: bettercell. I have responded to you there and found your input intelligent and thoughtful.
Since you are a Dentist.....I have a message that addresses the problem of Class 5', in addition of course to gingival problems which are often seen in patients with T1DM. It is my feeling that T1DM carries an Inflammatory condition with it that unfortunately produces many complications in Diabetes such as Periodontitis, Coronary Disease, and joint problems to name some.

[Caro]

Hi Bettercell,

You are quite right that diabetes is linked to periodontal disease. I have a list of posts I intend to write/publish - most of them in response to comments - but somehow I keep failing to get round to writing them all! Too busy working, or being on holiday!

Diabetes and oral health is on that list though, and once written will hopefully give you a dentist's insight into the oral problems that are associated with diabetes.