Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Alternate answer

This was a question that came up on a practice exam for one of my classes.

A type one diabetic is prescribed to take Regular and NPH before breakfast. The client give insulin at 6am before breakfast. The nurse should teach the client to:
A. Avoid snacks between breakfast and lunch
B. Delay dinner until after 6pm
C. Eat a low carbohydrate lunch at noon
D. Have a snack at 3pm

So what do you think the correct answer was?

I have to give them a little credit for saying a type one diabetic, and then following it with a question about insulin, but couldn't they have picked any of the insulins created in the last 10 years? One that doesn't promote a strict diet and schedule? I would like to add an alternative answer

E. Consult their endocrinologist for a prescription for Novolog and Lantus.

Friday, April 18, 2008

Dread

There are certain words I'd rather not hear on my voicemail on a Friday afternoon. Near the top of the list is "Hi, this is (name) from (name)endocrinology clinic. I'd like to speak with you regarding your blood work. I'd appreciate it if you give me a call as soon as possible." I called her back as soon as I got the message, but I had to leave her a voicemail. I had blood work drawn 3 weeks ago. I hadn't heard anything, so I assumed everything was fine. But I guess not. The office closes is about 5 minutes, and I'm doubting she will return my message. It is going to take a lot of will power not to worry about this all weekend.

UPDATE: Just like everyone suggested- it was nothing. My LDL was 109. While I'd prefer it was lower, it is by far not the end of the world. The nurse just asked if I had been taking my statin regularly (I have) and said they would get back to me. I have no idea why the urgency, but everything is just fine. I just need to get my butt in gear now that the weather is nice and work out more, and eat healthier! Winter is not nice to my health.

Thursday, April 17, 2008

I love

Allison posted this challenge, and then Hannah joined, and now I present my list.

The challenge: I challenge you to make your own list or leave a love of yours in the comments. The only catch? You can’t include a single person you know on your list. No “I love the way my husband laughs” or “I love hearing my little girl call for me.” It’ll be tough, I know. But this particular little exercise is about stripping away everyone who defines you and figuring out what you (not his partner; not their mother/daughter/sister/friend) love.

I love feeling like I have accomplished something.
I love looking through library books and wondering what they have in store for me- will they be exciting and interesting or will they be boring?
I love waking up before my alarm after a great nights sleep
I love being able to lay in bed at night, watch a movie and drift off to sleep.
I love taking walks outside when the weather turns warm
I love hearing a song on the radio that I used to love and haven’t heard in ages
I love it when I get a great blog post idea AND have time to type it up in a way I like
I love sitting down after a busy day and knowing I have made a difference
I love standing in the chapel and hearing voices lifted to God in such a beautiful place
I love the anticipation of a long trip
I love Colorado mountains
I love the rush of an OR suite
I love diabetes camp- even after 12 years
I love grilled cheese
I love comfy, broken-in jeans and hoodies
I love chick flick movies where everything is OK in the end.
I love it even more if music/dancing is involved.
I love winning games.
I love beautiful flowers
I love helping a customer and feeling like they really appreciated my help
I love the sounds of camping in the fall
I love seeing mail in my box at school
I love free stuff
I love surprises
I love an unexpectedly great picture
I love chocolate ice cream with Reese peanut butter cups
I love a cold drink of water
I love googling things to answer random questions
I love that people think I know everything random and knowing that I don’t
I love blue and purple mixed
I love seeing campus filling up now that its warm.
I love thinking up this list.
I love that it only took me about 10 minutes.
I'd love for you to do one of your own.

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Jen needs...

Jumping on the meme badwagon. I totally had planned on doing a Raise Your Voice post, I even had a good idea, and then I didn't have time to do it before clinical, and no energy after, so it didn't get done. Too bad.

Jen needs...a session or two with a therapist. Hmmmm. Might not be a bad idea!

Jen needs...a break. AMEN! 15 days until summer break!

Jen needs....human anatomy lessons. That might be true. I didn't do so well in anatomy, but so far, i haven't had any problems in nursing clinicals.

Jen needs...someone to comfort her. Sure, why not.

Jen needs....a boyfriend. No thanks. No time (just kidding. kind of- anyone know any single decent guys? Because I don't!)

Jen needs... to find a self righteous, conspicuous "I'm better than you" charitable position so she can keep charming the sheep into thinking she matters. I'm speechless.

Jen needs...understand that Adam does not carry his violent responses beyond his tools Yeah....I don't get it

Jen needs...a new computer While I am interested in a Mac, my Gateway is working just fine.

Jen need...her Oscar beauty rest Rest yes, for the Oscars? I can safely say that will never happen.

Jen needs...to take some time and be by herself. Yes please. One is never alone in college. I live with 17 girls. Privacy? HA!

Sunday, April 13, 2008

Announcement

I remember when I was a camper, at every meal, someone would get up and say, “Are there any announcements for the good of the camp?” Everyone would break out into song(I DID say it was camp!) Announcements, Announcements, ANNNNNNNOUNCMENTS! Pile ‘em in a corner, pile ‘em in a corner, pile ‘em in a corner and we’ll watch the flowers grow... I’ll stop there for everyone's sanity. The campers LOVED this song, especially when the person with the mic didn’t mean to say it. Once the singing was done, counselors would stand on their chair and scream to the rest of the camp what accomplishment their camper had made. “Scott gave himself his shot for the first time today!” “Sarah joined the belly shooters club!” Things like that. The camper would stand up on their chair, be filled with embarrassment and pride as the whole camp clapped and cheered for YOU. I had 2 announcements made about me during my time as a camper. (And a few more as a counselor, campers LOVE standing up and making announcements about their counselor, so I tried to give them chances) The first announcement made about me was when I did my own injection for the first time my first year at camp. I remember that day very clearly. I was SO proud of myself. This whole long story is to try to explain to you why I am so excited, and slightly sad, to be making the following announcement: (I can’t hear you singing!)

YESTERDAY, FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME, JEN PUT IN HER PUMP SITE WITHOUT AN INSERTER!!!!!!!

Yes, it’s true. After many, many years of using Quick-sets, I finally did one without the blue bubble. And it went great. Now, are there any other announcements for the good of the DOC? :-)

Wednesday, April 02, 2008

I broke it!

I don't know how, but I broke another pump. This time it was the cap that goes over the cartridge. The cap is sitting at an angle, and I no longer trust it to deliver properly. The Cozmo people are sending me a new cap overnight along with a spare. I was suppose to already have one, and I must have placed it in a VERY safe place. But since it didn't break until late Wednesday night, I won't be getting my new pump until some time today. That means a call to the endo for some Lantus pens and shots for a day and a half. And then after I took the shot of Lantus, I remembered I had my old Minimed 508 stashed in the closet. I took it out and put the batteries in it. It still works! I'm putting it on to take boluses and then have the Lantus for basal. It is making me appreciate all the features my Cozmo has. The Minimed pump does two things: delivers basal and delivers a bolus when you tell it how much insulin to give. Simple, but it does the job. When my new pump gets here, I'll be happy to take the batteries out of the dinosaur pump and re-retire it. And maybe I should stop dropping my pumps so often. :-)