Random Musings

Hello again.

2011-09-30T13:56:00.000-07:00

Yeah I know, Long time no post. A lot has happened in the last year, I got a new job, New car, Better health benefits, yep thats a lot.

Ive also spent the last year suffering from a severe case of D burnout. My A1Cs have gone up to the 7-8 range. I miss my 5s. And joy of joys, today I woke up with a nice cold.

Yes I'm whining.

Hows your day?

Now thats kinky.

2010-04-20T12:34:00.000-07:00

So far 2 of my last 3 sets have kinked. Hopefully this isn't going to be an ongoing trend.

In other news, my employer is being forced to drop health benefits for the time being due to costs. Business hasn't been great. We've had to reduce our hours of operation, severely cut back on staffing, and lay a few people off. They did try to help with getting other individualized insurance coverage, but the costs were just too much for my wallet.

My 15 minutes of fame.

2010-04-20T03:45:00.000-07:00

So I got mentioned on a diabetes related website.

http://www.diabetesincontrol.com/

They used part of my description for the Verio. w00t.

Boredom

2010-03-14T22:48:00.001-07:00

I'm bored. When I get bored I start surfing the net. Tonight I started checking out some friends blogs and noticed that almost all of us havent posted anything in a LONG time.(At least parrotletzoo is staying current.) For me this is nothing new. So here I am, trying to think of something to say, but failing miserably.

My latest addiction.

2009-08-19T12:50:00.000-07:00

Ive gotten hooked on Mafia Wars on facebook. This game is fun and its scary addictive. There is even a good guide on how to do quite well in the game.

Ultimate Guide For Kicking Ass In Mafia Wars

Sad days indeed

2009-08-13T13:13:00.000-07:00

A true legend has passed. Les Paul is the God father (IMHO) of rock. Without his innovations and creations, todays music would be nothing. Say a prayer and play some music in honor of a great man please.

Rapid Response. Minimed to the rescue.

2009-04-24T17:24:00.000-07:00

So I decided to change out my battery the other day and noticed several cracks around the cap on the main body of the pump.

I called Minimed and asked how serious these were, thinking no big deal, just stay away from water. I disconnect to get in the shower/hot tub any. Well apparently it is a BIG deal. They are overnighting me a new pump. w00t!

Awesome finds

2009-04-05T22:38:00.000-07:00

I find some interesting things now and then. Take today for example.

I'm at my local Grocers and about to leave when I see a display with this little jewel.

I just could not resist.

Evil Pizza.

2009-03-12T21:58:00.001-07:00

Yesterday was a Blah day. You know the kind of day. "what do you feel like having for dinner?" "Blah I dont know. "you feeling ok?" "Blah."

So my wife went out with her mother to Costco. Now Costco is a great store if you like to purchase items in bulk. And the same can be said for their take home pizza. So I get home from getting the boy and the wife is home and she has brought two of these monstrous pizzas home for dinner. Normally this is a good thing, however I'm not exactly feeling well since I caught this slow cold. (thanks daughter of mine). Now my CK guide says that Costco pizza is about 70 Gm CHO per slice, however is this the in store slice(1/6th of a pie) or the take home slice(1/12th of the pie) and why on gods green earth can't they cut the damn things evenly.

So to make a long story short, I ate 3 take home slices, bolused for about 135gm CHO and still went sky freaking high. then to top it off I slept through my alarm to remind me to test after a correction. All in all not by dest pizza day.

Bad Blogger, No Donut

2009-03-11T13:54:00.000-07:00

I realized that I havent posted in a LONG time. Bad, bad, bad me. The problem is, that between financial issues, work, and the recent issues of at work hypos, I havent been in much of a mood to post about anything.

But today I'd like to talk about a few of my coworkers. Let me explain that I work in a small company. Under 100 employees. Of that small sampling about 6 of us have D or D related issues. I'll talk about the other 5 as those who know me already know my story.

Subject 1 is an older male with controlled T1.5. He watches his diet, tests when needed and takes his insulin as often as needed. He's very active and IMHO is a model of a "Good" diabetic

Subject 2 is also older but was diagnosed with D after problems with his liver/pancreas due to alcohol. He has since cut alcohol from his activities and tries to control but doesnt understand the basics of carbs and their relation to his diabetes. He takes his meds daily but doesnt test as often as he should.

Subject 3 was Dxed as T2 very recently and is still new to the game. So far he is doing well with diet and exercise but I feel that he isnt getting good info from his Drs about proper care.

Subject 4 has not been Dxed yet but has classic Reactive Hypoglycemia. Her Drs arent all that concerned which is a shame. She is taking good care of herself and is working on a healthier lifestyle.

Subject 5 is a classic T2 and doesnt care about control. Meds are a necessary evil to her and she only takes them because the Drs tell her too. She eats constantly and doesnt bother to count carbs. Testing is done in the mornings and she is constantly at 180mg/dl or higher, and she thinks that this is ok. No exercise, no control, constant illnesses, and scabs/scars that wont/dont heal.

I dont feel sorry for any of these people. The majority of us accept our lot in life and deal with it accordingly. The last one however makes no attempt at proper control but wants pity when she doesnt feel good. Sorry, not gonna happen. I DO feel sorry for her child though. The child will be the one that gets the worst of it when mommy is hospitalized because of poor control leading to complications such as neuropathy, retinopathy, kidney failure, amputations, and or/death. I hope she gets her wake up call before this happens.

In other news, not only am I bad for not posting, but last week I ate chowmein noodles and General Tso's chicken. I guestimated for about 200 carbs and monitored closely every hour for about 4 hours. After that I was at 96mg/dl. Not too bad for a once in a while treat. What can I say, I ♥ chinese food.

New toys for the new year

2009-01-03T01:31:00.000-08:00

So a few months back I started collecting junk laptops. Then a few weeks ago my beautiful 19" widescreen LCD died on me. Well the other day I was talking to a friend of mine and told him of my predicament. He offered me a working laptop for my broken monitor and 2 of my junk lappies.

So now I sit here in my room, not at my main computer, and type from my working laptop. Its something that most take for granted but for me its a new experience.

In other news, too many great Icons have passed this year. Eartha Kitt, Forrest Ackerman, Michael Crichton, Isaac Hayes, Estelle Getty, George Carlin, Harvey Korman, Charlton Heston, Roy Scheider, Majel Barrett, and Don Davis. These are just a few. They each had their moments in my life. Please wish them well.

Clinical Trials - New Glucose Meter

2008-11-21T09:22:00.000-08:00

First off let me state that yes, I am an idiot. I forgot to take pictures.

Last week I participated in a trial of a new Glucose Meter. This thing was nice. It came from a reputable company with a long history of making good solid meters for us D people. But they decided to raise the bar just a bit.

That's right folks, One Touch is finally turning out a new meter that everyone can use. Allow me to introduce to you, the One Touch Verio.

1. First Impressions

The case for this thing is a little large. It's big. It's thick. We're talking a good 2.5-3 inches thick here. Now they may change this for final release, but for the trials this thing was a even thicker than my UltraLink.

When I opened It I was a bit surprised at the size of the meter. It was relatively small and compact. Dark in color and looked very nice. The color scheme was a welcome change from this companies standard 2 tone look. The standard data port on the bottom, and strip insert site on the top.

Think the Ultra 2 but shaped like the Ultra Smart.

2. Using The Meter

The test strip has been redesigned. No more little black strip. This one is green in color and instead of having a 3 striped end to insert into the meter, this one has 2 prongs. Sample size of 1.0µl has changed to a size of 0.45µl, and its loaded onto the side of the strip instead of the tip.

Now for the best part. No Code!!!! That's right. No more playing with buttons to get the code onto your One Touch meter. In other words, The people have spoken and One Touch has finally listened.

Results appear in the standard 5 second time frame and are accurate to within ±15% of standard lab values. This is an improvement over the previous ±20% of the standard One Touch family of meters.

This meter also allows for alternate site testing from the palm or the forearm.

After testing you can enter flag info such as before/after meal, exercise, hypo, illness, etc.

3. Control Solutions

This time One Touch has released 3 solutions for control testing and they can be a bit confusing. The print on the vials is small but not impossible to read.

Pros.
Smaller sample size. - 0.45µl mg/dl
Backlight
No Code

Cons.
No strip light.
No IR/radio communication with pumps.

4. Overall

This is a nice meter though its a rehash of the Ultra 2 with a few much needed improvements. I found it very easy to use and was quite happy with how the results matched up to my UltraLink.

I look forward to seeing this meter on the market.

Fun, fun, fun.

2008-11-13T21:42:00.000-08:00

Hello folks. I started into a clinical trial yesterday. I'll tell you about it as soon as I'm allowed.(nondisclosure agreement)

Work has been picking up as well as my mood. I've been going through a bit of a slump lately. Nothing too dark just feeling like I'm in a rut. But lately things are starting to look up. So here's hoping.

Oh well

2008-11-01T23:27:00.000-07:00

Yes blogverse, I know its been a few weeks, but nothing new is really going on. Next month i get to trial a new glucometer out and see how it works. other than that my life has been pretty uninteresting.

I'll get some Halloween pics up soon.

Well what next.

2008-10-17T09:24:00.001-07:00

Hello folks. Haven't been on in a while and thought I'd just drop a quick note to let you all know that I'm alive. so....

I'm Alive.

Bad Blogger, No Donut.

2008-09-26T10:34:00.001-07:00

Its been a while since I've blogged. Just too much going on recently to be able to make/find the time to sit down and start typing.

Work is very slow right now. Money is tight so I've been stressing about paying the bills. Add to that that I haven't been feeling well and you can see why I haven't been here.

But now things are starting to look up. I start a second job doing casino parties this Saturday after my regular shift. Should be an extra $60-$80 a night(depends on if I deal craps.) And next month the laws change to reflect inflation and I should be eligible for state assistance. (gotta get the kids medical back.)

Now if I could just get the bosses at my main job to understand that you have to spend money to make money. We used to have Pai-Gow and Blackjack tourneys for the players. Now we only have poker. We have alienated the larger portion of our clientele by getting rid of the big tourneys that drew in ALOT of people.

Perhaps I'll use the verbal 2X4 method. Perhaps I'll just start sending emails to the investors. Nah. I'll stick with showing my boss that more $$$$$ can be made by trying to get those people back.

Mythunderstandings

2008-09-05T18:56:00.001-07:00

So last week I was seeing increased numbers and attributed it to laziness. What I didn't realize was that the test strips I was using seemed to be having issues. They didn't want to load the blood into the strip properly and I "think" that this was causing my view of increased numbers.

I opened a new vial on Wednesday and have once again seen my 80s - 90s. Been holding steady since then.

The kids went back to school this week. WOOOOOHHHHHOOOOOOO!!!!! We had to get the boy switched into a different teacher, but I think its working well. It's so peaceful around the house during the day.

Friday funnies.

Asylum Street Spankers Video

Ooops, I did it again

2008-09-03T10:01:00.000-07:00

So its been a while Blogverse. Ive been busy lately with other things and haven't really had the time to post. I've officially had my first gusher after a site removal. Nasty bit of cleaning up.

Lately I've noticed my numbers going up so I've adjusted my basals and my I:C to see if it helps. What I really need to do is get off my behind and start exercising.

Goop, Goodies, Goofs, and Lancets

2008-08-07T00:12:00.000-07:00

On Mondays and Fridays I do my site change. To aid in this I get Detachol to help de-sticky the sticky-ness from the sets. Problem is it leaves an oily/goopy mess behind that is very difficult to clean up after. The oily I can deal with, a few sipes with an alcohol swab and I'm good to go. But the other stuff it leaves behind are the globs of sticky that the Detachol is supposed to eat at, but doesn't really do the trick. Which means that even with a shower, I still get the globs coming off me for days. It gets really bad if the old site was in one of my more "hairy" areas.(Think sweater vest)

Now on to the Goodies!!! I ♥ Safeway!!! New product line from Safeway Select called "Watch'n Carbs" Yummy, Yummy, Yummy! Ice cream! 3-4 Net Carbs per ½ cup serving. Its made with Splenda and its just oh so good. I mix Chocolate and Vanilla Bean together. Have I said its yummy!!!!!

My goofy son decided to try and sneak into the hot tub by himself today. So I decided to get in with him for a bit. Well a bit turned into over an hour and a half. Kept my pump on but inside a Ziplock bag to protect it from water damage. Worked pretty good but it was a bit annoying to have to hold onto it. I so want an Animas, but I'm going to have to wait 3 years before I can try for it. My 522 is only 1 year old.

I was looking at my poor fingers and decided to change my lancet today. Its been 3½ months since my last one and the V.A. just sent me a box of 200 new ones. I think I'm stocked for the next 50 years on the things now.

Work sucks and is very slow right now. BUt the back to school sales are starting soon and I will be glad to see the Casino pick up again.

Edit: I just saw this over at Six Until Me. Very cute video.

Looks like a Monday

2008-07-29T00:15:00.000-07:00

I hate Mondays. for me, my Monday is on Saturday, which means that I get to work while everyone else is out having fun. But then there is the "other" Monday. Its just as bad really. I stay up too late reading or dinking on the computer and I'm usually really tired for work the next day. Fortunately, the next day is my Friday. Which means that before long, I will be playing games on the computer for hours on end.

Just for fun I'm adding a link to a video of Douglass Adams.

Sunday Silliness

2008-07-20T08:35:00.001-07:00

I cant get this song out of my head.

Yakko's World

In other news, not much has really been going on health wise for me. Just waiting on the landlord to send someone over to fix the hottub.

Another Role Model Passes

2008-07-09T16:44:00.001-07:00

Actor and artist Don S. Davis Passed last week. This one shook me more than George Carlin. Don was a great actor in his portrayal of Gen. George Hammond. As such, he was something of a father figure to the members of SG1.

To quote the man himself, "Godspeed."

In other news, I got my results back from the V.A. for some lab work I had done last week. LDL = 165, HDL = 42, Cholesterol = 240, and HBA1C = 5.9. I know I've slipped a bit. Time to buckle down some and start exercising. My 30 day average is 100. That's the highest I've had since DX in May of '07.

Kerri Morrone Sparling over at Six Until Me got her second denial for a CGM, and has a few choice words to say about it. Check out her Blog and tell her what you think.

Gina Capone over at Diabetestalkfest has extended CGMS Denial Day into the CGMS Denial Campaign. Now I have never tried to get a CGMS, but the thought occurs that one day I might want one. Now I DID ask the V.A. about coverage for one, but they arent to keen on the idea. No sweat, I can understand that. It IS a government organization after all. But now I'm curious to see what I'll have to pay to get one through GHC. If they cover one at all. A quick search of their site shows no info regarding CGM or CGMS.

I posted a question in their discussion groups which are monitored by the nursing staff. We'll see if I get a response.

I added the answers to the latest meme. See if you start kicking yourself over them.

Meme again

2008-06-28T01:25:00.000-07:00

It's Attack of the music meme part 2 RM viewers. So put on your thinking caps and lets dig in shall we?

1. ~~A local boy kicked me in the butt last week, I just smiled at him and I turned the other cheek.~~ Weird Al - Amish Paradise

2. ~~Out on bail, fresh out of jail, California dreaming. Soon as I step on the scene I'm hearing hoochies screaming.~~ 2Pac - California Love

3. ~~And my balls are always bouncing, my ballrooms always full, and everybody comes and comes again.~~ AC/DC - Big Balls

4. ~~Half my lifes in books, written pages. Living, loving from fools and from sages.~~
Aerosmith - Dream On

5. ~~She doesn't give you time for questions, as she locks up your eyes in hers.~~ Al Stewart - Year of the Cat

6. ~~Sometimes late when things are real and people share the gift of gab between themselves.~~ America - Tin Man

7. ~~He said can I get some, I said you cant get none. I had a chance to run, he pulled out a shotgun.~~ The Beastie Boys - Paul Revere

8. ~~You cant write if you cant relate, Trade the cash for the beef for the body for the hate~~ Beck - Loser

9. ~~Kill the spirit and you'll be blinded, the end is always the same. Play with fire, you burn your fingers and lose your hold of the flame~~ Black Sabbath - The Mob Rules

10. ~~By the time we got into Tulsa-town, we had 85 truck in all, but there's a roadblock up on the cloverleaf and them bears was wall to wall.~~ C.W. McCall - Convoy

11. ~~I guess you didn't know it but I'm a fiddle player too, and if you care to take a dare I'll make a bet with you~~. Charlie Daniels - The Devil Went Down to Georgia

12. ~~If you're ever in houston, well, you better do the right; You better not gamble, there, you better not fight, at all~~ Creedence Clearwater Revival - The Midnight Special

13. ~~Touch your lips just so I know, In your eyes, love, it glows so, i'm bare boned and crazy for you~~ Dave Mathews Band - Crash Into Me

14. ~~I got a million ways to make my day, But daddy don't agree. Cause when I try to get away, He says he got plans for me~~. Def Leppard - Lets Get Rocked

15. ~~My nose is big, uh-uh I'm not ashamed, Big like a pickle, I'm still gettin' paid, I get laid by the ladies, ya know I'm in charge, both how I'm livin' and my nose is large~~ Digital Underground - The Humpty Dance

16. ~~Who is to blame in one country, Never can get to the one. Dealin' in multiplication, And they still can't feed everyone~~. Eddy Grant - Electric Avenue

17. ~~Philosophy is the talk on a cereal box, Religion is the smile on a dog.// Philosophy is a walk on the slippery rocks, Religion is a light in the fog.~~ Edie Brickell and the New Bohemians - What I Am

18. ~~Now put your flags in the air and march them up and down, you can live it up live it up all over the town~~ The Escape Club - Wild Wild West

19. ~~In a town without a name, in a heavy downpour, Thought he passed his own shadow, by the backstage door.~~ Foreigner - Juke Box Hero

20. ~~I won't be coming home tonight, My generation will put it right, We're not just making promises, That we know, we'll never keep.~~ Genesis - Land of Confusion

21. ~~And often times we're lazy, It seems to stand in my way, Cause no one no not no one, Likes to be let down~~ Jack Johnson - Flake

22. If you look at your reflection in the bottom of a well, What you see is only on the surface. When you try to see the meaning, hidden underneath, The measure of the depth can be deceiving. The bottom has a rocky reputation Joe Walsh - The Confessor

23. ~~Imagine theres no countries, It isn't hard to do. Nothing to kill or die for,And no religion too.~~ John Lennon - Imagine

24. ~~You're playing so cool, Obeying every rule. Dig away down in your heart, You're burning, yearning for some.~~ Kenny Loggins - Footloose

25. ~~To sit with elders of the gentle race, this world has seldom seen. They talk of days for which they sit and wait and all will be revealed~~ Led Zeppelin - Kashmir

26. ~~I was lying on the grass on sunday morning of last week, indulging in my self defeats. My mind was thugged, all laced and bugged, all twisted round and beat, uncomfortable three feet deep.~~ Len - Steal My Sunshine

27. ~~Now Scott with a slingshot finally found a tender spot and throws his lover in the sand. And some bloodshot forget-me-not said daddy's within earshot save the buckshot, turn up the band~~ Manfred Mann's Earth Band - Blinded By the Light

28. ~~Some nights you're breathing fire, and some nights you're carved in ice, Some nights you're like nothing I've ever seen before or will again.~~ Meatloaf - I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)

29. ~~I've done no harm, I keep to myself; There's nothing wrong with my state of mental health. I like it here with my childhood friend; Here they come, those feelings again!~~ Men At Work - Who Can It Be Now

30. ~~We can go when we want to, The night is young and so am I. And we can dress real neat from our hats to our feet And surprise 'em with the victory cry~~ Men Without Hats - The Safety Dance

31. ~~They're piling in the back seat, They're generating steam heat, Pulsating to the back beat~~ The Ramones - Blitzkrieg Bop

32. ~~Siam's gonna be the witness to the ultimate test of cerebral fitness. This grips me more than would a muddy old river or reclining Buddha.~~ Murray Head - One Night in Bangkok

33. ~~my creation--is it real? Its my creation--i do not know. No hesitation--no heart of gold. Just flesh and blood--i do not know~~ Oingo Boingo - Weird Science

34. ~~Everyone's a super hero Everyone's a Captain Kirk, With orders to identify, To clarify, and classify.~~ Nena - 99 Red Ballons

35. ~~Save me, Is there nothing that I can use. Please believe me, Am I conforming to your views. Promise you anything, Watch me cryin’ out to you. Gimme back my name, Let me make my statement.~~ Nazareth - Crazy(A Suitable Case For Treatment)

36. ~~Dressed up like a million-dollar trooper, Tryin' hard to look like Gary Cooper (super duper). Come let's mix where Rockefellers walk with sticks or um-ber-ellas in their mitts~~ Taco - Putting on the Ritz

37. ~~come and get some of this, don't forget da innuendo, play me like nintendo, never ever let go, screaming so loud, you'll be hitting the crescendo~~ K7 - Come Baby Come

Well that's the list for this week. Do your best, and no asking Dr. Google. Eyes on your own papers please.

In other news, Ive been feeling like a zombie all day. My numbers are about the usual, but I'm just so tired.

In honor of George C. "Longshoremen walked off the piers today. Rescue efforts are continuing around the clock."

Quiet days

2008-06-26T10:37:00.000-07:00

So today is one of those rare days that I have little to do. I figured it would be a great time to review my basal profiles and see just whats going on lately and if I need to change anything. Fortunately for me I bought 2 cases of bottled water yesterday, so I at least have something to put in my stomach for the next several hours.

Chat

2008-06-25T09:42:00.000-07:00

Chatting online is one of my many pleasures. It ranks up there with gaming. Many of the D related sites I've seen have some type of chat interface. But Flash and Java have limitations as to what they can do. Call me oldschool, traditionalist, throwback, etc..., but I prefer old IRC based chat systems. Fully customizable based on your chat program, extensive features through services, and if you have a bit of tech savvy, you can create a bot that will echo responses on command.

This is what I have done for years. ivy tried many of the chat programs out there and I still prefer the old system. Just because something is newer, doesn't always make it better. Sure, the chat on the sites there are good, fun, and usually well protected by the admins and site mods, But I still prefer the old chat.

Just for the record I DO go into some of the chats on the D sites. And I have made some good friends while doing this. And both old and new have problems. ping timeouts/server timeouts just to name a few. I do have a chat room running, but since this blog goes out on a few sites I wont post here how to get there. If you want the info, feel free to contact me and I will tell you how to connect.

Whaa!!!!

2008-06-23T23:43:00.000-07:00

Well, Another week at work is almost over. I work 4, 10 hour shifts with 3 days off. Normally I would talk about work here but it's been on my mind alot lately. Its slow. Very slow. It's so slow in fact, that I'm considering working evenings as opposed to days. Money seems to be better on nights as there are generally more customers at night. I hate the idea. Hardly seeing my family, missing the kids, the change in hours, not to mention that it gets damn hot during the days when I would be trying to sleep. My numbers have been good, fewer hypos at work pre-lunch. Usually in the 80's to mid 70's. How would the change in shifts effect those numbers?

In other news, George Carlin, master of comedy, passed away on Sunday. I remember when I was a kid listening to my dads album "Take-Offs and Put-ons". True comedy genius at work. From Wonderful WINO radi featuring Al Sleet, To the Indian Sargeant. The only thing that even comes close is Robin Williams - Reality..... What A Concept!

I've whined enough for one day.

Summer is officially here

2008-06-20T23:15:00.000-07:00

Well it's summer time here in the northern hemisphere. Today we celebrated in typical fashion by inflating and filling the pool, me sitting on my butt watching the boy splash around and having a BBQ cookout on the grill. Burgers and Dogs, and pasta salad.

All day I kept checking my numbers to see some pretty happy results. 81, 83, 79, then my dinner PP. 172!?!?!?! Oh man, WTF. Thats even 4 hours after dinner! Such a good day too. I bolused for everything. Screw it. I wanted Ice cream. Now I'm waiting for the 2 hour PP after that. if its over 140 I'm gonna have to correct and damn the consequences.

In other news, my daughter is becomming an activist. She and her cousins protested outside a KFC today. Down with the establishment!!!!

Also I have posted the answers to the meme. You may not know some of them, but i believe you may be surprised at a few.

Artificial Pancreas

2008-06-17T21:48:00.001-07:00

The prayers of ALOT, of T1 diabetics may be answered soon.

June 16, 2008, 1:24AM
The revolution ahead
Work on artificial pancreas project nears historic end

By TODD ACKERMAN
Copyright 2008 Houston Chronicle

Researchers are edging closer to a high-tech system that would automatically regulate diabetics' blood sugar and rid them of their daily burden of pricking their fingers and injecting insulin.

The system, a so-called artificial pancreas, has been a Holy Grail of diabetes treatment for decades, a bridge to the day when a cure is finally found. It would mostly benefit Type 1 diabetics, those whose bodies have stopped making insulin, but also those Type 2 diabetics who
require insulin shots.

"The artificial pancreas will revolutionize diabetes treatment," said Aaron Kowalski, a research director at the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, the project's big sponsor "It will significantly lower or eliminate the risk of complications such as blindness, kidney failure, heart disease. And it will improve quality of life as people will no longer have to constantly monitor themselves."

The system already is in trials at centers in the United States and internationally. But researchers say it'll likely be another five or so years, as component parts are improved and consolidated into a single package, before the realized vision is ready to hit the market.

It wouldn't be a traditional replacement organ. Rather than physically resemble a pancreas and fit near it, it would mostly rest outside the body and strive only to duplicate function. It would build upon two existing devices — insulin pumps and continuous blood glucose monitors — that marked big steps forward in diabetes treatment in 1978 and 2005, respectively.

In the finished product, the monitor will not only measure a diabetic's blood sugar level, but signal the pump to release an appropriate amount of insulin to adjust the level into the normal range, in effect mimicking a real pancreas. A computer program, developed based on the changes in levels caused by human diet and behavior, will calculate the particular need at any given time.

The result would be the elimination of the highs and lows diabetics now experience.

Some 21 million Americans have diabetes, which is characterized by the body's inability to produce or properly use insulin, a hormone that maintains normal levels of blood sugar, or glucose, and helps convert sugar, starches and other food into energy. About 5 million diabetics
take it, including as many as 3 million with Type 1.

In an effort to maintain optimal glucose control of their glucose — high levels damage blood vessels and nerves and lead to complications — conscientious diabetics will prick their fingers four to 10 times a day to test their levels. But even frequent testers don't know if their
glucose skyrockets or crashes between tests — most ominously, when they're asleep.

Studies have found that even patients who measure their glucose as much as nine times a day spent less than 30 percent of the day in the normal range. Their levels were either too high or too low the rest of the time.

In that context, the Food and Drug Administration's recent approval of continuous monitors was a breakthrough. The monitor, worn like a pager and connected to a sensor placed just under the skin, tells the patient whether levels are trending up or down. If levels reach dangerously high or low levels, it sounds an alarm.

"The monitor's made things a lot easier for me," says Rob Loar, a Kingwood native and medical student diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 1992, when he was 6. "Because of the additional information it provides I'm able to use my pump more effectively and avoid the peaks and
valleys I used to experience."

But the monitors have limitations. Their readings are usually 15 to 30 minutes behind real time. They require users to be educated and committed to the task, a requirement that's resulted in short-term studies showing mixed results. And because adoption of the device has been limited so far, insurance only sporadically covers its high cost — $1,000 plus at least $350 a month for supplies.

The fully realized artificial pancreas should change all that. Researchers predict it would be universally adopted by diabetics on insulin — and thus covered by insurance — because it'd work
automatically, rendering patient involvement unnecessary.

In the first pediatric trial of a prototype of the artificial pancreas earlier this year, Yale University researchers tested it on 18 teenagers who stayed in a hospital for 36 hours and found it effectively kept glucose levels in the normal range throughout. New series of trials testing the system in less controlled settings are in the works.

But researchers acknowledge there is still much work to be done. At the moment, they say, the biggest challenge is developing a sensor that delivers accurate measurements of glucose levels to the pump in real time. Algorithms that calculate just how much insulin should be delivered at different times and in different circumstances need to be improved, though researchers say that shouldn't be an easy problem to solve.

Still, there are skeptics aplenty, some of whom complain that they have been hearing about an artificial pancreas since the 1970s, when prototypes were refrigerator-sized and hospital-based. More than 30 years later, hoping instead for a biological cure, they argue it's still just a lot of hype.

More specifically, they warn about the inevitability of mechanical failure, which could cause catastrophe if it occurred at particularly inopportune times; the burden of carrying around even more technology; and price tags double the amount of today's pumps.

Researchers respond that they are working on back-up systems in case of mechanical failure, that later-generation models of the artificial pancreas likely would be wholly under the skin and that insurers will ultimately rush to embrace it because it will dramatically reduce the $100 billion the United States now spends annually on diabetes-related medical care.

"It's important to remember that an artificial pancreas won't be a cure," said Dr. Philip Orlander, head of endocrinology at the University of Texas Medical School at Houston. "It'll still require
doctor's visits and monitoring. But it would be a major improvement over current treatment, one that I'm sure all Type 1 diabetics in our clinic would be on."

todd.ackerman@chron.com

It's Monday, Site change day!!!!

2008-06-16T23:57:00.001-07:00

So I'm sitting here looking at other D blogs while filling a new cartridge and getting ready for a site change. And I'm wondering if anyone prefills their cartridges and lets them sit in the fridge or just fills them as needed?

New viewer

2008-06-16T20:46:00.001-07:00

Hi Dar, thanks for looking in.

DF A.K.A. Diabetes Forums

2008-06-08T01:36:00.001-07:00

Well I hit a milestone today. My 500th post to my favorite D
related forum site. So to celebrate this occasion, I'm going to borrow
from Dars Blog a little meme I liked.

*Update* Added some extra lines to aid in hints.

Try and name the artist and song from the lyric.

1. show her my gloves, as she had on her mitts, And I spied she liked me when she showed me her... Perfume that she buys, whenever Avon calls. Polkadot Undies - Blouser and Blue

2. Remember when you ran away And I got on my knees And begged you not to leave Because I'd go berserk? Well. . . You left me anyhow and then the days got worse and worse. They're coming to take me away, HaHa. - Napoleon XIV

3. You're blinded by romance, you're blinded by science, You're condition is critically grave.
But don't expect mercy from such an alliance, Suspicion of traditions so new wave. Shock treatment - Richard Obrien

4. ~~Oh you're so condescending, your goal is never ending~~ "We're Not Gonna Take It" - Twisted Sister - Dar

5. Look at us spinning out in the madness of a roller coaster. You know you went off like a devil In a church in the middle of a crowded room. The Space Between - Dave Mathews

6. One likes to believe in the freedom of music. But glittering prizes and endless compromises, shatter the illusion of integrity yeah. The Spirit of Radio - Rush

7. In all that exists, None have your beauty. I see your face, I will survive! Mystify - INXS

8. Why follow me to higher ground? Lost as you swear I am. Don't throw away your basic needs, Ambiance and vanity. December - Collective Soul

9. Don't you lie, Don't you lie, cause you can't hide the truth. I can see whats behind those eyes, tongue so twisted from telling lies. Goodbye - Save Ferris

10. ~~So you think I got a funny face, I ain't got no worries~~ "Cum on Feel the Noize" - Quiet Riot - Dar

11. Dressing up in costumes, playing silly games. Hiding out in treetops, shouting out rude names. Games Without Frontiers - Peter Gabriel

12. Well I know the saying goes that all in love and war is fair. But I never stood a chance against your chemical warfare. My love is Chemical - Lou Reed

13. And the man in the back is ready to crack as he raises his hand to the sky. And the girl in the corner is everyone's mourner - she could kill you with a wink of her eye. Ballroom Blitz - Tia Carrere

14. There's a new game, We like to play you see. A game with added reality. You treat me like a dog, get me down on my knees. Master and Servant - Depeche Mode

15. A friend in needs a friend in deed, A friend who'll tease is better, Our thoughts compressed which makes us blessed and makes for stormy weather. Pure Morning - Placebo

16. I am the son and the heir of a shyness that is criminally vulgar. I am the son and heir, of nothing in particular. How Soon is Now - Love Spit Love

17. You welcome me with open arms, and open legs. I know only fools have needs but this one never begs. You Better You Bet - The Who

18. Time everlasting, Time to play B sides. Time aint on my side, Time I'll never know. Burning for You - Blue Oyster Cult

19. Woman you want me, give me a sign, and catch me breathing even closer behind. Hungry like The Wolf - Duran Duran

20. Skin to skin, tongue to oooh! Come on honey hold tight. Come inside, it's a passion play just for you. Sex...(I'm a) - Berlin

21. ~~I wont tear the sack up, punk you better back up.~~ "Jump Around" - House of Pain - Dar

22. We had no home front, we had no soft soap. They sent us Playboy, They gave us Bob Hope. Goodnight Saigon - Billy Joel

23. ~~Late night, come home, Work sucks, I know~~ "All the Small Things" - Blink 182 - Dar

24. Like the lost catacombs of Egypt, Only God knows where we stuck it. Hieroglyphics? Let me be Pacific, I wanna be down in your South Seas. The Bad Touch - The Bloodhound Gang

25. ~~Oh, that cement is just, Its there for weight, dear~~ "Mack the Knife" - Bobby Darin - Dar

26. It's an ancient Chinese art and everybody knew their part. From a feint into a slip, and kicking from the hip. Kung Fu Fighting - Carl Douglas

27. But as the wind changed direction, The Temple band took Five. The crowd caught a whiff, of that crazy casbah Jiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiivve. Rock The Casbah - The Clash

28. Don't let the past, remind us of what we are not now. I am not dreaming. Suite: Judy Blue Eyes - CSNY

29. Some of these days it wont be long, Gonna drive back down where you once belonged, In the back of a dream car twenty foot long, Dont cry my sweet, dont break my heart, Doing all right, but you gotta get smart, Wish upon, wish upon, day upon day, I believe oh lord, I believe all the way. Golden Years - David Bowie

30. I have legalized robbery, and called it belief, I have run with the money, I have hid like a thief. Rewritten history with armies and my crooks. The Man's too Strong - Dire Straits

31. ~~Did you write the book of love, and do you have faith in God above~~ "American Pie" - Don MClean - Dar

32. Well if it rains, I don't care, don't make no difference to me, Just take that street car that's goin' up town. Black Water - The Doobie Brothers

33. ~~But my dreams, they aren't as empty, as my conscience seems to be~~ "Behind Blue Eyes" - The Who - Dar

34. The smell of gun grease, and their bayonets they shine. He's there to help them all that he can. To make them feel wanted He's a good Holy Man. Sky Pilot - Eric Burdon & The Animals

35. Organically grown, Through the hemisphere I roam, To make love to the angels of life, yeah
And my girl. Weapon of Choice - Fatboy Slim

36. I'm the first person, you're the second person, Earlier today I was in the third person. Stop cursing, start diversing, Oedipus is bliss, the sunshine will affect your mind, Stretch it out, don't doubt the amount. Dream - Forest Through the Trees

37. It was a very good year for small town girls and soft summer nights. We'd hide from the lights, on the village green. It Was A Very Good Year - Frank Sinatra

38. Bright and early for the daily races, Going nowhere, going nowhere. Their tears are filling up their glasses, No expression, No expression. Hide my head I want to drown my sorrows, No tomorrow, No tomorrow. Mad World - Gary Jules

39. Last fire will rise behind those eyes, Black house will rock, blind boys don't lie. Immortal fear, that voice so clear. Through broken walls, that scream I hear. Cry Little Sister - Gerard McMann

40. I'm falling down a spiral, destination unknown. Double cross messenger all alone. Can't get no connection, Can't get through, where are you? The Twilight Zone - Golden Earring

41. I've been lost now, days uncounted, And its months since, I've seen home. Can you hear me? Can you hear me? Or am I all alone. I'm Your Captain - Grand Funk Railroad

42. One day up near Salinas, Lord, I let him slip away, He's looking for that home and I hope he finds it, But I'd trade all my tomorrows for one single yesterday. Me and Bobby McGee - Janis Joplin

I'm stopping at 42 because that's the answer to Life, The Universe, and Everything.

Bonus Question -
A gang of pirates landed, and nobody seemed to care.
They stamped into the nearest bar to announce that they were there.
Half our crew was busy there, and invited them to play,
But the pirates only looked at us, and turned and ran away.

Our crew is Starfleet's finest, and our record is our pride.
And when we play we tend to leave a trail a mile wide.
We're sorry about the wreckage and the riots and the fuss;
At least we're sure that planet won't be quick forgetting us!
Banned from Argo - Leslie Fish

ScribeFire

2008-06-04T10:33:00.001-07:00

Started looking around for a few blogging tools this morning. Found something called ScribeFire for adding to your blog via a FireFox console. Figured I'd try it out.

Shorttimers

2008-06-03T22:26:00.000-07:00

Its official, My kids have short timers, less than 2 weeks of school left. Now I will have to figure out new and interesting ways of entertaining them that doesn't involve duct taping them to their walls. I feel sorriest for my wife since I have the escape of work 4 days a week.

New Beginings

2008-06-01T23:59:00.000-07:00

Well, I haven't used a blog in about 6-7 years. I figured I would try again and see if it actually works out this time.

First I think I should tell you a little bit about myself. I'm crude, crass, and generally far from socially acceptable. Political correctness to me is a punchline at parties, and I am not the kind of person that you want to be seen with by your friends.

Read this blog at your own risk and I guarantee that eventually, I will say something that will make you angry or offend you.