5th week of school and still going strong with little incident. Keyword: little.
Last week I tried changing my Omnipod and also had to change my insulin bottle for the first time here. I went into my mini-fridge for one but could not find any of them. I feared the worst, thinking that some passerby or friend of my roommate (as we leave our door open 95% of the time) perhaps mistook the little injector bottles for something more illicit and pocketed them for their own use. At this point I was freaking out, as the usage of insulin on non-Diabetics (especially in great quantities) was once used before electro-convulsion therapy with effects such as shock, coma and occasionally death.
Luckily, I had forgotten that prior to this I had hidden them in a hidden compartment of a small black bag, also in the fridge. Perhaps I had the exact concern and made the necessary preparation.
Other than that, things have been going smoothly. It's all a matter of ensuring that your glucose level is within range and that you have sugar on hand at all times. I don't have classes around meal times, though at night my glucose occasionally drops. The dining area (which is just outside my dorm) is open until 1 AM each day, so there is no need to worry.
As a student with a pretty busy class and study schedule, I did notice the first few days that my blood sugars remained consistently on the higher side (180 - 220 mg/dL) due to sedentary lifestyle. I don't have time to wait in line to do anything at the consistently-filled gym, so I find time to jog around campus and do push-ups and sit-ups between classes. Also, I have found most of the vegetarian options in the dining area very unsavory, so I have been sticking to salads, tofu, hemp protein and vegan multivitamin supplements. This is great in the sense that these foods offer just enough carbohydrates to keep blood sugars in range without having to give insulin boluses. Really, the only insulin expenditures these days are basal insulin, certain occasions when I can eat out (Wednesday nights and weekends) and correcting higher blood sugars. I think I have gotten the hang of it all for the most part.
I am attending my first endocrinology appointment alone this Friday with a parent note. Just makes me realize how little time I have left as a carefree teen. Keep posted.
-Patrick
Monday, September 21, 2015
Sunday, August 16, 2015
Move-In Day
Move-in day for any college student can be a rather foreboding experience - it could be the last time you live and/or rely on family. For me, and doubtless for many collegiate diabetics, this experience can be rather fearsome and a snap back into reality.
I began to actually realize for the first time that I would be completely responsible for myself. Sure, roommates and resident assistants (RAs) can be extensions of help, but never quite like parents and guardians could be. What's more, the prospect that I would need to worry about my supply of test strips, syringes, pods, insulin and more. Luckily, my parents are keeping me on their health plan as long as possible (age 26 being the legal cutoff). However, it now falls upon myself to be attentive and in charge of obtaining said supplies.
I informed my roommate and RA of my condition, how I can be dealt with should the need arise and some small talk on the matter. They were understanding and helpful on the matter, but I know that this is where I take charge and ensure that my health is in good condition. I made it a point to head out to the store to get extra water on hand for highs, some sugary foods for lows and a mini-fridge for insulin cooling.
It has become very habitual for me to conceal my diabetes - all of my supplies and fridge full of insulin are tucked away from visibility whenever a fellow neighbor visits the dorm - which shouldn't necessarily be the case. We are living in an age where diabetes - especially Type 2 - is on the rise and will affect America in a big way (CDC and ADA estimates are 33% of total population by 2050). It is a responsibility I feel that I should shoulder from now on, even if that means doing the little things, like giving curious passerbys a very brief overview of diabetes and how to avoid/deal with it.
All in all, it has been a good start to college life, and I feel comfortable with my position for the moment. I have the support of my parents and floormates, but have yet to reach out to any on-campus diabetic support groups and the like. Keep posted.
-Patrick
I began to actually realize for the first time that I would be completely responsible for myself. Sure, roommates and resident assistants (RAs) can be extensions of help, but never quite like parents and guardians could be. What's more, the prospect that I would need to worry about my supply of test strips, syringes, pods, insulin and more. Luckily, my parents are keeping me on their health plan as long as possible (age 26 being the legal cutoff). However, it now falls upon myself to be attentive and in charge of obtaining said supplies.
I informed my roommate and RA of my condition, how I can be dealt with should the need arise and some small talk on the matter. They were understanding and helpful on the matter, but I know that this is where I take charge and ensure that my health is in good condition. I made it a point to head out to the store to get extra water on hand for highs, some sugary foods for lows and a mini-fridge for insulin cooling.
It has become very habitual for me to conceal my diabetes - all of my supplies and fridge full of insulin are tucked away from visibility whenever a fellow neighbor visits the dorm - which shouldn't necessarily be the case. We are living in an age where diabetes - especially Type 2 - is on the rise and will affect America in a big way (CDC and ADA estimates are 33% of total population by 2050). It is a responsibility I feel that I should shoulder from now on, even if that means doing the little things, like giving curious passerbys a very brief overview of diabetes and how to avoid/deal with it.
All in all, it has been a good start to college life, and I feel comfortable with my position for the moment. I have the support of my parents and floormates, but have yet to reach out to any on-campus diabetic support groups and the like. Keep posted.
-Patrick
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