landileigh's little world

This is my third D-Blog Day. So much has happened in this last year. Not much diabetes wise, but so much with my life. My family has had it tough with the economy. Some months I didn't know how we'd make it. The DOC has been generous and loving in so many ways, and I do not know if I can ever repay them for that, but I do know I will pay it forward.

I've had a wonderful opportunity to work with Gina Capone and TheDiabetesResource.com - the ULTIMATE guide. I couldn't ask for a better friend or work partner. She is like a sister to me.

Diabetes kicked me in the butt in October. I had an A1c of 8.2, this was the highest it has ever been, and let me tell you I am kicking it in the pants to get it back to the 6's!

I'm happy to say that November 2009 is looking up. November 10th - tomorrow - my husband goes back to work for the first time since February.

enough said.

30 Things About My Invisible Illness You May Not Know

1. The illness I live with is:  Chronic Kidney Disease
2. I was diagnosed with it in the year: February 2006
3. But I had symptoms since: 1990
4. The biggest adjustment I’ve had to make is:  not being able to do the things I want to do, because I'm exhausted
5. Most people assume: that I can do more than I can do.
6. The hardest part about mornings are: the pain from having slept a long time and being able to make it to the bathroom.
7. My favorite medical TV show is: Grey’s Anatomy and I can't wait for Three Rivers.
8. A gadget I couldn’t live without is: my Animas pump.
9. The hardest part about nights are: my body basically shutting down at about 8pm.
10. Each day I take _12_ pills & vitamins. For my kidneys, hypertension, and heart .
11. Regarding alternative treatments I: I go regularly to a nutritionist that works with dialysis patients.
12. If I had to choose between an invisible illness or visible I would choose: I wouldn’t change my illness because I feel visible or invisible, I need to be a voice.
13. Regarding working and career: I miss working, but am thankful for the ability to be able to write and have a voice in the diabetes and kidney media outlets I have.
14. People would be surprised to know: I am in pain most of the time.
15. The hardest thing to accept about my new reality has been: not being able to just be spontaneous and do multiple things in a day.
16. Something I never thought I could do with my illness that I did was: take busses to my doctor's appointments.
17. The commercials about my illness:  are non-existent. I have yet to see a single kidney related commercial.
18. Something I really miss doing since I was diagnosed is: being able to walk in a mall.
19. It was really hard to have to give up:  camping.
20. A new hobby I have taken up since my diagnosis is: blogging and playing online poker.
21. If I could have one day of feeling normal again I would: go to Disneyland and walk the entire park, I would also eat every single sweet that I came in contact with.
22. My illness has taught me: that I have value in my voice. I am loud and strong.
23. Want to know a secret? One thing people say that gets under my skin is:  "You don't look like you are sick"
24. But I love it when people:  surprise me with the love and kindness I have never seen before. Just by asking me how I am.
25. My favorite motto, scripture, quote that gets me through tough times is: “That which does not kill us, makes us stronger"
26. When someone is diagnosed I’d like to tell them: Today is not your last day, you can have many good days, and there is so much new knowledge.
27. Something that has surprised me about living with an illness is: I am stronger than I ever thought possible.
28. The nicest thing someone did for me when I wasn’t feeling well was: Thanks to Bernard and Diabetes friends, I received American Express Gift certificates that helped in a rough time.
29. I’m involved with Invisible Illness Week because: I want to show that I am LIVING with Chronic Kidney Disease!
30. The fact that you read this list makes me feel:  loved.

Find out more about National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week and the 5-day free virtual conference with 20 speakers Sept 14-18, 2009 at www.invisibleillness.com

Thanks to Gina Capone for this insightful blog post. I'm reposting, so that everyone read this important information.

Do you know what GDH-PQQ is? (I didn’t until recently either, so don’t feel bad)

Well it stands for this Glucose DeHydrogenase PyrroloQuinoline Quinone and its a type of glucose monitoring. (try saying that one 5 times fast)

The FDA sent out a health notice saying that anyone using GDH-PQQ technology and receive drug products or therapies containing certain sugars other than glucose such as: maltose, xylose and galactose can lead to serious injury or even death. (More below)

Drug products or therapies with non-glucose sugars

• Extraneal (icodextrin) peritoneal dialysis solution


• Some immunoglobulins: Octagam 5%, Gamimune N 5% **, WinRho SDF Liquid, Vaccinia Immune Globulin Intravenous (Human) and HepaGamB


• Orencia (abatacept)


• Adept adhesion reduction solution (4% icodextrin)


• BEXXAR radioimmunotherapy agent


• Any product that contains, or the body breaks down into, the sugars maltose, galactose or xylose

This is the reason for concern: These types of sugars can create a false glucose reading on your meter which will prompt more insulin coverage for a higher blood sugar leading to severe hypoglycemia. Hence the serious injury or death concern.

IMO this has to be very rare especially if you check your blood sugar often. Like me for instance 10-12x per day. Although not everyone is that anal retentive.

Who should be concerned with this? People on peritoneal dialysis and people who recently had surgery.

**Glucose test strips other than the GDH-PQQ type are not affected by this problem, and can be used by patients taking drug products or therapies that contain non-glucose sugars.

If you are concerned if your strips use this technology there is a list of GDH-PQQ Glucose Test Strips Here
—————
Roche Diagnostics is among the listed with their Accuchek test strips.

Andreas  Stuhr, MD, medical director of Roche Diabetes Care North America put out a patient letter today stating this:

It is important to know that this is not a recall of the ACCU-CHEK blood glucose monitors

The FDA notes that “GDH-PQQ meters and strips are okay to use if you are not using an interfering drug product or therapy” as listed above.  For those who are using drugs that contain non-glucose sugars, the FDA recommends the following:
• Do not use GDH-PQQ glucose meters or test strips
• Use another type of glucose monitoring technology and continue to monitor your blood glucose as instructed by your healthcare provider
• Contact your healthcare provider if your results do not reflect the way you feel

Patient safety is important to Roche.  ACCU-CHEK products have been proven to provide accurate and reliable results for patients with diabetes, when used as directed in package inserts.

Should you have any additional questions or concerns regarding ACCU-CHEK products, please call ACCU-CHEK Customer Care, available twenty four hours, seven days a week at 1-800-858-8072.
—————
Bayer Healthcare also contacted me as well with this statement:

Bayer’s CONTOUR and Bayer’s BREEZE2 Blood Glucose Monitoring Systems Do Not Use Problematic GDH-PQQ Technology

Bayer Diabetes Care is committed to patient safety and has a portfolio of blood glucose meters that all meet the current FDA requirements.  The company adheres to and supports the highest standard of quality in its meters and strives to do everything possible by a manufacturer to ensure the accuracy of readings. Bayer Diabetes Care meters are designed to minimize the impact from as many external variants as possible, helping to ensure accuracy of readings.  Bayer’s BREEZE®2 and CONTOUR® systems both feature No Coding™ technology, and no interference with common substances including the non-glucose sugars maltose and galactose.

For more information on Bayer Diabetes Care blood glucose monitoring systems, visit www.bayerdiabetes.com.

Hopefully, this scare will be over soon and we can all get back to our regularly scheduled diabetes program.

You gotta LOVE Master Cook for help in putting your own recipes together! I hope everyone enjoys this at 15 carbs!