Year 2

I'm a few days into my 2nd year at SJSU. For the most part, I've gotten the hang of daily life on campus. And for the first time ever I don't have classes on Fridays! Oh, college can be wonderful like that!

This year, I am living in an on-campus apartment. This differs from the dormitory I lived in last year in several ways. For one, I have 4 roommates instead of just 1. We have 3 single rooms and 1 double room, our own restroom, kitchen and living room. We also share a fridge. This brings me back to my primal fear of having my insulin stolen, but they are all pretty solid guys whom I trust. But this isn't the only major change in my life that has come up recently.

I've had to say my goodbyes to Lucile Packard's Childrens' Hospital. The reason being, I am no longer a child. There were plenty of great nurse practitioners and endocrinologists who took care of me over there. I'd like to give shoutouts to Kari Benassi, Netra Punjabi and Bruce Buckingham. Wonderful physicians who ensured I was at my best health in my youth.



I now see a big-boy endocrinologist who is already doing a fine job of keeping me on my toes and in check. She always pushes me towards a lower A1C every time I go in (as opposed to having 7.0 or less being a-ok) which I must suppose is an adult thing that I will gladly accept.

On a completely different topic, I am now starting to take Anatomy! A class that I will find very relevant on my path to becoming a nurse practitioner! Not for the faint of heart I must say, but loads of fun and plenty interesting. One minute I am inspecting a cadaver's heart with my (gloved) hands, and five later sees me eating lunch. Woo!

I'll keep you posted,

-Patrick

DASH Camp - Bushrod 2016

Today marks the beginning of the second week of DASH's 2016 Bushrod Camp. I was lucky enough to volunteer alongside Lucas, John and several Samuel Merritt nursing school students last week*. A very eager bunch that I was also lucky reconnect with or meet. We had an average of 10-11 campers a day (both diabetics and non-diabetics) who seemed to really enjoy camp.

Overall, the camp was a success in my eyes. Each day, we would follow a schedule consisting of two to three sports and/or physical activities (kickball and zombie tag were particular favorites) before lunch, a mixed bag of diabetic discussion during and after lunch, followed by three to four more sports/physical activities. The founder, Lucas Fogarty, even hinted at a '4100 Club' - wherein all camp members and staff would complete a collective total of 2000 push-ups, 2000 sit-ups and 100 sprints. We never did get around to it, though I am certain our campers and staff would have been more than willing to step up to the occasion.

What really spoke to me was the thorough care of diabetes we ensured for each and every camper. We weren't perfect in managing their blood glucoses as the keen experience of a doctor would provide, but we involved the kids in the process and encouraged them to fully understand and ask questions. Beyond that, the campers were more than capable and willing to answer any and all questions about diabetes that the nursing students had for them. That alone made me swell with enormous pride for this upcoming generation of diabetics. Awareness and good vibes being spread all around.

The parents would come back each morning and tell us how well the kids slept off their exhaustions and - a lot of the time - would report more in-range glucoses upon returning home, at night and the following morning. My butt got kicked by the sports and exercise (a real wake-up call) and I am too spoiled by summer sleep-ins. But it definitely made me feel like we were making a difference. That is what I cherish about DASH camp - the camaraderie, the fun to be had, the willingness to learn and grow. Why I would wake each morn to see those kids' happy and eager faces.

I would do it again every time.



*Due to family vacation, I am unable to be in attendance for this week :( Way to kill the moment, right?

Second Semester

Second semester is in full swing. Sorry, it's been too long.

I have gone head over heels searching for a way to make it all work. Studying, getting more involved with extracurricular activities and making time for friends. I don't even have a job; makes me wonder how others juggle. But back to the relevant points - this is a diabetes blog indeed.

Two weeks ago I went to a concert with my dad (a group called Best Coast should you inquire) in SF. It probably wasn't the best call to make, as it was on a Tuesday night. I wasn't sure what time it would end at and how long it would take to get back to my dorm either. But I didn't want to let my dad down so I readily went.

The venue was quite crowded and we had minimal time to eat dinner beforehand. We ate at a little hole-in-the-wall sandwich joint whose name eludes me. I got a vegan sandwich (new lifestyle choice, don't judge ;) The vegetables tasted a bit odd and were unnatural in coloration, but I paid little attention. We then entered the Fillmore and enjoyed the show.



Cut to Tuesday night/Wednesday morning. Couldn't steal a single second of shuteye. Nausea ensued and the situation only worsened. I knew immediately that I had food poisoning. Never had it before, but I thought I could ride it out. For the next 3 days I projectile vomited and retched whatever I could (pretty much only water after day 1), couldn't eat at all and went to class. My blood glucose skyrocketed out of control regardless of injections and corrections.

The lesson to be learned is that sometimes some things cannot be handled alone. It was a vicious cycle wherein food poisoning was the cause but not the perpetuator. I couldn't eat for the first few days, which led to a breakdown of muscles and mighty thews. The rush of nutrients from tissue expenditure caused surging glucoses and ketones - a condition known as Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA). I was severely weakened. So, I checked into the ER and sat tight for two days as I was brought back to steady glucose levels and a state of non-decay.

Moral of the story, get help should you need it. On a more positive note, the Bay Area Diabetes Summit was great! The children that I took care of seemed to enjoy it and, as per usual, Carb DM and DYF had a great set-up for parents and children. There was a good roster of diabetes non-profits and resources (including one such organization known as DASH :) out to inform the populous and spread awareness. And that always gives me the warm fuzzies. Good vibes all around.



Stay informed y en buena salud! Keep posted,

-Patrick

5 Weeks In

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

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