Chasing Bubbles

Have you ever felt like you are chasing bubbles? Good grief I feel like I am chasing bubbles all the time.

Diabetes Bubbles

This morning at 2:30 AM my pump alarmed and let me know that my blood sugar has broken the bank. In other words, I was over 250 and rising.  Yet last night I was low after riding my bicycle, and slipping to 58. Ugh. So today was a rebound high, but it was high none the less. Folks sometimes advise that we not treat rebound highs. For me a high is a high and I hate highs. They make me feel yucky and besides the CGM would not shut up about it. The darn thing went off every 15 minutes until I got it down. If I had followed the general advice to not treat rebound highs I would be sitting here at 500 instead of 172. Did I mention I hate highs?

So how many times does diabetic care become the issue of chasing bubbles? I know this past week, I have been high and low and everything in between. I mean it is no wonder, I feel like I am chasing the preverbal bubble. How about you?

Diabetic technology is also like chasing bubbles. My CGM had a charging issue right out of the box, (replacement was made). My pump screams 3 days before I know it and that means I have to change the set, just when things are working well. The darn tube hangs all around my body and do not get me started on the famous doorknob grab UGH.

Medicine Bubbles

Then let’s take medications. So I have been taking 80 MG of simvastatin (I know many disagree with taking this but I want to take it so please let’s not talk about why I should not). I have been taking the 80 MG of simvastatin for about 6 years now. This month for some reason, the mail order company refused to allow it to be filled. The problem was two parts. First, 80 mg is more than usual and they wanted a doctor explanation. They asked me about it and I said look, I think we should remember you have been approving this drug in this format for about 6 years now. Second, they refused to fill it in two 40 MG tablet form. Now I need to explain, I take the simvastatin per prescribed twice per day, one pill in the morning and one pill in the evening.

After two weeks of back and forth the prescription company approved the 80MG but I now have to split the pill. Here is the kicker. The 80MG pill is only slightly less expensive than the two 40 MG system. I have to now split the pill. Good grief. Let’s remember this is a very inexpensive generic medication. The pharmacist tells me that the total savings for the prescription company is $0.86 per month. Difference in total cost to the prescription company is $20.43 for two 40 MG pills versus $19.57 per month for one 80 MG pill. I pay $10.00 either way, so $0.86 are they kidding me? I have been taking the two 40 MG pills for at least six years and just now a junior pharmacist somewhere decided to save $0.86 per month. Give me a break; I can do without chasing these medicine bubbles.

Supply Bubbles

Finally don’t get me started on missing supply orders. Oh my goodness, the two months ago I received 180U reservoirs instead of the 300U unit items that fit my pump. In the same order I got 19 inch tubing instead of the typical 42 inch that I normally get. Sure it is easy to send it back however if you are almost out it is not easy to wait until the new stuff shows up. Did I mention that any opened box cannot be returned? More bubbles.

So is there a way to stop chasing bubbles? No of course not. But when people say diabetes is easy I sometimes want to reach out and flip them on the forehead. Folks always say diabetes is all about what I eat. Sure what I eat is about 5% of the junk I put up with because I have diabetes. Easy they say? Chasing bubbles is always easy. I think next time someone tells me how easy it is to manage diabetes I need to blow some bubbles.

TUDiabetes.net post December 30, 2014

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