Lesson Learned

Avatar for kelly_colleen
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Lesson Learned
2
Thu, 03-11-2004 - 11:20am
Yesterday afternoon & evening I felt slightly lightheaded a few times. At first I attributed it to sleep deprivation, then to the caffeine in the Lemon Diet Coke I had to fight the sleepies. But reason reared it's ugly head and told me it might be because my sugars were off.

So I tested. Or rather, I tried to test.

The meter needed to have the date reset. I punched buttons randomly until it stopped blinking at me.

Then the meter needed to be coded. That one I figured out fairly quickly.

Because the meter was so wacky and it had been so long since I've tested, I figured I should calibrate the meter. My control solution was expired. I rummaged around until I found some - thankfully it was still good.

Then I checked the vial of test strips - also past the use-by date. Fortunately there were only 2 left in there, so I wasn't wasting strips, and I have a whole bunch of vials on hand.

So I get everything ready, and the meter gives me an error message. Where's my owner's manual? God only knows. Finally I found the info online - random error, try another test strip.

I try another strip and finally test. My blood glucose reading is 83 - not bad, as it was about 3.5 hours after eating dinner. But is this result accurate?

By this time, I've got everything gathered, so I decide to do things right. I use the online manual to reset the time & date correctly. I do the calibrating, and for the first time ever hit the buttons so that the meter knows it's a control test & doesn't keep the results in memory. The control test is within parameters. I put in a new lancet and test my finger - 84. Okay, good reading.

But meanwhile, during all this, I was feeling lightheaded. I think I was right originally when I attributed the feeling to the caffeine. It's not part of my life very often, so I'm sensitive to it's effects. Regardless of the cause, being lightheaded made getting my meter in proper working order that much more trying.

So my lesson is learned - I will check my meter routinely to make sure it's working properly, regardless of my testing schedule or lack thereof. I'm also testing regularly today. Fasting this morning was 87...tho' I'd had a piece of toast when pumping at 3:30-ish, so that was only a 4 hour fast. I've got the timer on the oven set to remind me to do my 2-hour after meal testing. I plan to test after each meal today, just to see where I'm at with my sugars. And I will make the effort to resume the testing schedule I was on at the end of my pregnancy - testing on 2 work days and 1 weekend day, 1 fasting and 1 post-prandial each testing day. Being a good mommy means somehow finding the time to take care of myself, so that I can be healthy to take care of Meg.

Isn't learning lessons the hard way fun? ;)

- Kelly

type 2 diagnosed 12/6/02

mommy to Meg, born 12/16/03

- Kelly
"Tobi" edd 3/15/06
Meg born 12/16/03
diagnosed w/type 2 diabetes 12/6/02
Avatar for cl_d_minnick
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Fri, 03-12-2004 - 12:45am

Geez Kelli, I say that was a very trying time. How ever it did help me to remember to check my meter that I will be going back to once my few test strips from the one is out. I also need to find the owners manaul, which fortunately for me I keep in one place with all my other diabetic manuals I need. I got to also get the date, time, and a few other things all set up in order for me to use it. Just proves that we all should stay on top of our meters, because you never know when you might need to change or do something to them. LOL


Wow, I also never even thought to check to see if my solutions for testing the meter are out of date or not. Now I will be doing that tonight since I have 2 boxes of it in my closet. Good think you reminded me to do that or I would have never even thought of it. I guess I'll be gathering what I need to get my Accu Chek Complete going again and let the Active be on hold since it seems to give me way to many errors on it and also requires so much more blood. I may also call the company to see about getting me the programs to download my informationt to my meter, so I have all the information I need to make myself a graph although the Complete does have a graph on it already.


This lesson must be learned by us all and you have pointed that out so very well. I especially love the reminder to take care of ourselves, so we are better able to take care of our children and family. I seems to at times forget that very good point to take care of me in a way that I am capable of taking very good care of both my sons, but also so that if we are able to be blessed again with another child that he or she is born healthy like my both my boys were. Now I just gotta get a good schedule down to get me going of the pre-meal tests and the 2 hour post meal checks, because I know I have to do that while pregnant so why not get started on it before hand and it also can help me and my doctor get my insulin rates set just right for me. So here is to all of us getting ourselves in a good checking schedule especially those meters.


Sending you some extra strong "healthy" vibes in hopes that you manage to keep on the right track to better take care of your beautiful daughter Meg. Will you have anymore children? Just curious is all with that one, but of course you do not have to answer it. Take care and have a super duper day!

Denise ^..^


Mom to

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Avatar for cl_maryfrances40
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Fri, 03-12-2004 - 12:54pm

Hi Kelly Colleen,


What a wonderful Irish name! I hope you are feeling better and am glad that you got your meter situation straightened out. I am also glad that you have started testing again. Being diabetic or hypoglycemic, for that matter, it's light driving a car without a speedometer and