So, it's summer... well, it's supposed to be. I don't know about your part of the world, but here the summer has been quite non-summer like. Rainy, even cool a lot of the time. It's a bummer.
As a result, I am not as active as I usually am during the summer. And I feel it. My waist band feels a little tighter than normal, and I see my blood sugar gradually creeping up. Yesterday I finally had to give in and adjust my basal rate to compensate.
Sure, I could jump on my elliptical machine to work off those extra calories and get my blood sugar and basal rate back under control, but my heart isn't in it. I want to be outside. Walking, biking, whatever...
Anyone else have the summer blues? Yeesh.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
4.0 at 4:00 p.m.
I just tested my blood sugar for TuDiabetes: 14K People Test Their Blood Sugar At The Same Time.
My result? 4.0 mmol/L at 4:00 p.m... I love it! (Actually, it was at 3:56 p.m. according to my meter but I think the time on my meter is a little off... it was 4:00 according to the clock on my computer.)
It looks like many people are on board and submitting their test results at a fierce pace based on the constant pinging of my e-mail inbox since I left my result, thanks to the feature that alerts you when others post a comment following your own.
I think I may need to turn off MSN Messenger for a while until the comments die down... but keep it up everyone, great job! :)
My result? 4.0 mmol/L at 4:00 p.m... I love it! (Actually, it was at 3:56 p.m. according to my meter but I think the time on my meter is a little off... it was 4:00 according to the clock on my computer.)
It looks like many people are on board and submitting their test results at a fierce pace based on the constant pinging of my e-mail inbox since I left my result, thanks to the feature that alerts you when others post a comment following your own.
I think I may need to turn off MSN Messenger for a while until the comments die down... but keep it up everyone, great job! :)
Monday, July 13, 2009
Ontario Assistive Devices Program (OADP)
Beginning September 2008, the Ontario government provides funding for the purchase of insulin pumps and insulin pump supplies for adults with Type 1 diabetes.
This bit of information may very well likely have already been posted by someone else from Ontario long ago, but it is something I just found out about two months ago when I had my endocrinologist appointment. My doctor told me about the new coverage through the Ontario Assistive Devices Program (OADP). It was great news for me, because our health insurance through my husband's previous employer is on the brink of cancellation. Like so many others, he was laid off back in November. His employer extended our health insurance coverage for 9 months or until he found new employment, whichever came first. He has finally found new employment, but insurance with them doesn't begin until his probationary period ends in September.
So during my appointment, my endo gave me the form for the program; I filled in my part, and left the form with him to fill in his and submit. I finally received a letter in the mail last week from OADP telling me that coverage is approved and that I will receive my first cheque in the mail sometime in the next 3 to 4 weeks.
So, great news right? The government covers my supplies and we don't have to worry about insurance coverage anymore (at least for pump supplies; we still need coverage for test strips, insulin, etc).
The problem is that I have some receipts that are in insurance limbo right now. I applied for OADP coverage slightly late because I didn't know it existed until two months ago. Without knowing that I was eligible for OADP, I had been purchasing my pump supplies as normal - I bought what I needed each month and saved the invoices, then about every four to six months I submit them all at once to my insurance company for reimbursement.
I'd been wondering why it was taking so long for my last claim to be processed, and today I got my answer. I received a letter from my insurance company stating that because OADP now covers insulin pump supplies, the last claim I had submitted to my insurance company for pump supplies from October 2008 through April 2009 was DENIED.
Six months of supplies at approx. $250 per month is $1,500. $1,500 which I may never see again because I should have applied for OADP coverage sooner.
I'm mad, but I suppose it is my own fault for not keeping myself informed. I knew that OADP coverage for insulin pump therapy had been granted in December 2006 to children age 18 and under with Type 1 diabetes. However, short of checking the Ministry of Health website on a regular basis, I'm not sure how I would have found out about adult coverage any sooner than I did. The government doesn't exactly freely advertise when they are giving away money. I suppose this is a lesson learned the hard way to keep abreast of developments in the diabetes world.
If you live in Ontario and, like me, have also been caught in OADP/insurance limbo, let me know. I'm not sure if we can resolve anything together, but it would be nice to know I'm not the only ignorant one. :)
This bit of information may very well likely have already been posted by someone else from Ontario long ago, but it is something I just found out about two months ago when I had my endocrinologist appointment. My doctor told me about the new coverage through the Ontario Assistive Devices Program (OADP). It was great news for me, because our health insurance through my husband's previous employer is on the brink of cancellation. Like so many others, he was laid off back in November. His employer extended our health insurance coverage for 9 months or until he found new employment, whichever came first. He has finally found new employment, but insurance with them doesn't begin until his probationary period ends in September.
So during my appointment, my endo gave me the form for the program; I filled in my part, and left the form with him to fill in his and submit. I finally received a letter in the mail last week from OADP telling me that coverage is approved and that I will receive my first cheque in the mail sometime in the next 3 to 4 weeks.
So, great news right? The government covers my supplies and we don't have to worry about insurance coverage anymore (at least for pump supplies; we still need coverage for test strips, insulin, etc).
The problem is that I have some receipts that are in insurance limbo right now. I applied for OADP coverage slightly late because I didn't know it existed until two months ago. Without knowing that I was eligible for OADP, I had been purchasing my pump supplies as normal - I bought what I needed each month and saved the invoices, then about every four to six months I submit them all at once to my insurance company for reimbursement.
I'd been wondering why it was taking so long for my last claim to be processed, and today I got my answer. I received a letter from my insurance company stating that because OADP now covers insulin pump supplies, the last claim I had submitted to my insurance company for pump supplies from October 2008 through April 2009 was DENIED.
Six months of supplies at approx. $250 per month is $1,500. $1,500 which I may never see again because I should have applied for OADP coverage sooner.
I'm mad, but I suppose it is my own fault for not keeping myself informed. I knew that OADP coverage for insulin pump therapy had been granted in December 2006 to children age 18 and under with Type 1 diabetes. However, short of checking the Ministry of Health website on a regular basis, I'm not sure how I would have found out about adult coverage any sooner than I did. The government doesn't exactly freely advertise when they are giving away money. I suppose this is a lesson learned the hard way to keep abreast of developments in the diabetes world.
If you live in Ontario and, like me, have also been caught in OADP/insurance limbo, let me know. I'm not sure if we can resolve anything together, but it would be nice to know I'm not the only ignorant one. :)
Friday, July 10, 2009
Still trying
Okay, I know... it's been a while again.
I'd meant to post a couple of months ago after my endo appointment when my A1C miraculously came back at 6.6 - yay me. Seriously, I thought I was in for some disappointed-in-you frowns from my endo (he has an incredible way of making me feel guilty when my A1C is over 7). But instead he gave me a knowing smile and said, "Go make babies." To which I replied, "We're already trying."
Yes, I've been trying to get pregnant without the 'official' thumbs up from my doc, which I know isn't ideal. But I have been trying to do everything right - eating right, no alcohol, exercising, checking my blood sugar about a thousand times a day. It seems to all be in vain though because so far nothing has happened anyway.
I have an appointment next week with my GP to see if anything could be preventing a pregnancy. My period has been seriously messed up since I went off the pill after our wedding last year. Like, my cycle has been 6-8 weeks long instead of a standard 28-day cycle. I know it takes some time to get back in order after stopping the birth control pill, but this last stretch has me a little freaked out. It has been 12 weeks since my last period. I have taken 5 pee-stick tests and they are all clearly negative. So it's time to find out if anything else is up. I mean, I am almost 35 and trying to get pregnant for the first time.
* * * * *
On another note, it's been like a wonderful diabetes Christmas-in-July this week! I registered both of my Contour glucometers a few weeks ago (my Contour Link and regular, old Contour which is my backup), and today I received my matching pump and glucometer skins AND a fancy-shmancy carrying case for my glucometer. It's, well... LARGE. I'm not sure whether or not I'll use it, but it really is very pretty and matches my pump skins quite nicely.
p.s. It is berry season. My mother-in-law brought me a big bowl of strawberries last night so I made my Berry Muffins this morning. See here if you missed the recipe the first time.
I'd meant to post a couple of months ago after my endo appointment when my A1C miraculously came back at 6.6 - yay me. Seriously, I thought I was in for some disappointed-in-you frowns from my endo (he has an incredible way of making me feel guilty when my A1C is over 7). But instead he gave me a knowing smile and said, "Go make babies." To which I replied, "We're already trying."
Yes, I've been trying to get pregnant without the 'official' thumbs up from my doc, which I know isn't ideal. But I have been trying to do everything right - eating right, no alcohol, exercising, checking my blood sugar about a thousand times a day. It seems to all be in vain though because so far nothing has happened anyway.
I have an appointment next week with my GP to see if anything could be preventing a pregnancy. My period has been seriously messed up since I went off the pill after our wedding last year. Like, my cycle has been 6-8 weeks long instead of a standard 28-day cycle. I know it takes some time to get back in order after stopping the birth control pill, but this last stretch has me a little freaked out. It has been 12 weeks since my last period. I have taken 5 pee-stick tests and they are all clearly negative. So it's time to find out if anything else is up. I mean, I am almost 35 and trying to get pregnant for the first time.
On another note, it's been like a wonderful diabetes Christmas-in-July this week! I registered both of my Contour glucometers a few weeks ago (my Contour Link and regular, old Contour which is my backup), and today I received my matching pump and glucometer skins AND a fancy-shmancy carrying case for my glucometer. It's, well... LARGE. I'm not sure whether or not I'll use it, but it really is very pretty and matches my pump skins quite nicely.
p.s. It is berry season. My mother-in-law brought me a big bowl of strawberries last night so I made my Berry Muffins this morning. See here if you missed the recipe the first time.
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