Being a diabetic with complications can make the everyday a little daunting. Sometimes it’s just overwhelming when I look at all the meds and things I have to take and do to get through the day. Lucky for me I have a very supportive boyfriend who loves to find little things that make my everyday easier.
There is nothing we can do about the number of meds I take daily. I take 35 pills a day, on a good day. On a bad day it can be even more. I have been able to come to terms with it over the years and realize that every single pill I take is necessary to live as normal a life as I possibly can. You cannot take 35+ pills at one time. So I take meds 4 times a day. I admit, I used to forget all the time. This bothered Greg so he found me a pill case with 4 slots and 4 alarms a day. It has made such a difference in the last year. My “as needed” pills fit wonderfully into a pretty cigarette case I found.
Many medications have side effects. The worst one for me is dry mouth. At least 5 of my meds cause it and it really is awful. I used to wake up multiple times in the middle of the night feeling like I had swallowed a spoonful of cinnamon (look it up on YouTube to see what I mean). He found hydrating gum that really does what it says and tastes great. Can’t chew gum in my sleep though, so we heard about “time released hydrating discs. I woke up Christmas morning to find 4 boxes in my stocking. They rock! They take a little getting used to. Still they keep my hydrated for 2 hours at a time and I am able to sleep without waking up 5 times a night to get a drink.
Being a diabetic means dry skin, especially in the winter. I have come to depend on my foot cream and severe dry hand cream. The foot cream is specifically for diabetics and it really works. The hand cream I use every night and I wake up with smooth supple hands every morning. I know some people will think “she nuts”, but they are the people who don’t get dry skin. Dry skin hurts! So these creams make a huge difference in my life.
I love my insulin pump. I have never been bothered by the tubing and I cannot even fathom a “pump vacation”. The idea of not having my pump on is horrifying! It’s so comfortable it’s like an appendage, it’s just part of me. I love my UltraLink meter, but I have to use the MultiClix lancet device. Try it, it will make you so happy. My fingers are so less sore these days.
For my everyday lows I like Welch’s gummies. Even more I loooooove “Dex4 Fast Acting Sour Berry Bits”. They were made specifically for pump users. Each bit is 1gram of carbs and they taste just like Sweet Tarts! Try them, they will make you so happy!
So these are the little things that add up to a much easier life for me. Thank goodness for my sweetheart for seeing to a happier me!`
Awww! very sweet! I should try the skin cream. Lol I get pretty darn ashy during the winter months. I love Dex4 tabs, by far my favorite.
I’ll have to try the Dex4 things. I use the same pump/meter/lancet combo you do! I switched the meter when I got the pump, but wasn’t willing to give up the Multiclix! I’m having a bad diabetes day, but it makes me feel better to read about the diabetes community.
This was such an uplifting post Tina! I always try to find the positive from bad situations but it can sometimes be very difficult. I am with you on the pump, multiclix and Dex 4 bits … those are some great products!! And yeah Greg is pretty awesome for you too
Very inspiring post: great than you can sound so upbeat when your daily routine is so difficult. And what hand cream do you use?
Sorry Janet, I just realized you can’t see the hand cream. It’s Lubriderm Intensive Skin Repair. I love it! Also Lubriderm makes an awesome skin cream too.
Awesome post, Tina!! I also love – lidoderm patches & dex 4 bits. Good idea to use Welch’s gummies for lows, I’ll have to try that. And inspired my Greg, Kiran got me one of the pills w/ alarm thingies too! Thank goodness for the little things
Great post! While being a diabetic is no fun, sometimes these little things you talk about (special formula hand/foot cream, multiclix etc) can make being a diabetic a little more “fun” (for lack of a better word!) I was going to try the Dex4 bits, but David thought it was a waste because each one is just one carb. I think I’m going to try them, because my lows aren’t always terrible, I just need a few carbs to get myself back into range and drinking a glass of juice always makes me spike.
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That’s the exact type of lows the bits are for. The only bad thing about them is you want to keep eating them lol
Your post was very inspiring,I really commend you on how much you do everyday to stay healthy. It’s not easy but you do it so gracefully!