THANKS A LOT MR. PRESIDENT

5:45am Wake up. TEST (then eat breakfast).

Get ready for work. (Before getting behind the wheel) TEST.

8:30am/9:00am TEST (to make sure my previous amount of insulin worked well). Eat a snack.

11:00am TEST (sometimes) (to make sure my previous amount of insulin worked well). Maybe I eat lunch now.

If I wait until noon to eat TEST.

2:00pm TEST (to make sure my previous insulin worked well, my numbers are ok, etc).

3:30pm I'm usually hungry for a snack. TEST

4:30pm Get ready to leave work. TEST before getting behind the wheel.

Get home anywhere between 4:45pm-6:00pm depending on traffic and picking Derek up from train.

7:00pm TEST before eating.

9:00pm TEST to make sure everything is working ok.

Anywhere between 10:00pm-11:00pm TEST before going to bed.

Occasionally if I wake up in the middle of the night and am interested where my blood sugar is at TEST.

That's 12 BLOOD TESTS...and this is on a day I'm not exercising. You can add another 3 TESTS or so as I TEST more frequently as it gets closer to my actual workout. After my workout. And, if I'm not feeling well, sometimes during my work out.

What about on days I go low. You know the drill: Glucose, juice, etc. Retest in 15 minutes. Still low. Repeat. Same with a high...Take large dose of insulin. Test in 30-60minutes. Keep testing until back in range.

My current Rx allows for 700 strips for a 30 day period.

You can see why I was upset when I received a letter saying I would now only be covered for
no more than 200 strips/30 days.

After calling my health insurance company, the rep confirmed that it was due to the new health care reform. Insurance companies had to reevaluate certain drugs and cut back.

So, apparently the Food and Drug Administration recommends only testing your blood sugar 6 times a day.
Really? And what does the American Diabetes Association recommend?
What about my endocrinologist who is a Diabetes Specialist, M.D., Ph.D., FACP, Professor and Director of the Kovler Diabetes Center out of the University of Chicago?
What does he recommend?

A LOT MORE THAN 6 times a day!!!!

I'm tired of the FDA approving chemicals, hormones, and antibiotics in our food, but putting limits on me and not thinking its a good idea to take care of my Diabetes.

I'm not scamming the system. I'm a hard working American who has always had a job, so I could make money, pay my bills, and yes, because I have Diabetes, unfortunately, health insurance is a big factor in where I work and what I do.

I test a lot, and it's not always fun, but I'm trying to do the best I can to be the healthiest I can.

The good thing is that this doesn't go into affect until April and my doctor can write a letter stating why he thinks it's necessary for me to test more than 6 times a day.

The letter of medical necessity will be reviewed by the Prescription Research Team and they will decide whether or not my full RX will be covered.

The letter that was sent stated I could still order my full RX, but I would then pay out of pocket for anything over 200 strips....that's $500/month!!!

It was an overwhelming day thinking about all of this and day dreaming about the worst case scenario.
I sent a tweet to the White House before getting into bed. I know, it's a long shot.

Jen Enger (sunnyside_life) on Twitter: sunnyside_life Jen Enger
@whitehouse/usg just got denied coverage 4 basic diabetes supplies ive used 4 22yrs due 2 healthcare reform. Thanks a lot!!!
13 hours ago

I started to cry as I lay in bed thinking, "I'm just so tired of Diabetes".
Derek wrapped his arms around me and said, "Oh Jenny, it's ok. The Bears might win it next year."
Of course I laughed, and through my snots and tears said, "I know, but I just figured I'd cry it out for the both of us."
And before he fell asleep, he pulled me in closer and sang, "Ooooh child, things are gonna get easier, oooh child, things will get brighter."

I LOVE MY HUSBAND!

I woke up to an email from my mom with this quote from Tony Evans:
"When God allows trouble in your life, He has a purpose. Dignify your difficulty by finding meaning in the trial."

I know God is BIGGER than the health care system.
All I can do is pray...and enjoy my husband's bedtime serenades!!!!

FRIDAY FAVES: Sweet Potato Fries

There's nothing like a cheeseburger, fries, and diet coke.
Sometimes I just CRAVE it (even if it's from the $1 menu at McDonald's!).
Of course it is better from a sit-down restaurant...with ranch and avocado.

Being on a budget, we try our best to do all of our cooking at home, so we've been excited to have a weekly burger and fries night at home...just us and our trusty 'ol George Foreman grill :)

In working on getting my a1c down, losing weight, and being healthier
in general, I've traded in my cheeseburgers for salmon burgers
(Derek is still sticking with his weekly cheddar bacon burgers)
and instead of french fries,
we enjoy a healthy side of SWEET POTATO FRIES!!!!

I first experimented with Sweet Potato Fries this summer after reading about them on blogs.
I googled a recipe and got to work:
peeling, chopping,
seasoning (olive oil, salt, cinnamon, paprika...), and baking.

The results were tasty, but
after too many run-ins involving my fingers and the knife,
I knew there had to be a better way!

On a random trip to the Jewel, I spotted them...
Sweet Potato Fries,
already chopped, peeled, and seasoned,
in the freezer section!!!

From there, we branched out to other variations
found at Whole Foods
(Chipotle Seasoned, Crinkle Cut, Waffle Cut, etc...)

Prices range anywhere from
$1.89 (Aldi) to $4.39 (Waffle Cut, Whole Foods) per 1 pound bag.
And just when we thought it couldn't get any better,
they arrived at Costco!!!

For $5.89 for 4 pounds, we've found our best deal yet...and it will last us for a month.
That's right, 1 pound of french fries
shared between the 2 of us each week!
(That's for dinner 1 night and leftovers for lunch the following day).

These delicious sweet potato fries have filled me up at meals,
been gracious to my blood sugar, are easy to count out,
making carb counting quick and painless,
and have added health benefits, with wonderful nutrients, and vitamins.
And with Thanksgiving around the corner, sweet potatoes are in season.

Ladies and Gentleman,
please give it up for
my current Friday Fave....Sweet Potato Fries!!!

Happy Friday...
now go enjoy some Sweet Potato Fries!

BALLIN ON A BUDGET FOR A BIRTHDAY.

If you are on a budget and you want to surprise your husband for his birthday, you should...

Find out the name of that book that he's been looking for.

 

See if they have it at a used book store.

Of course, you'll have to pay in cash since anything you debit, he'll see! He does such a good job budgeting and keeping an eye on everything that goes in and out of the bank accounts.

If you don't have any cash on hand, you can break into the change buckets, hoping he doesn't keep too close of an eye on those!

You can also make an attempt at your first cheesecake since it's his favorite.

You can always count on the fact that your family won't pass up an opportunity to treat him (and you) to Superdawg!

And you can also be thankful that his family threw him a birthday party.

Looks like another birthday success!