When Q was first diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, I felt like I was drowning in numbers:
- blood glucose levels four to ten times a day
- counting, weighing, and measuring food
- carb counts
- boluses for meals
- corrections for blood sugar levels
Several people close to me said that if anyone could handle all the details and data that comes along with diabetes management, I could.
We used our log book, the one with the tree frog, to jot down ten or more numbers a day.
I created an Excel sheet to enter in the data so that we could present it at endocrinologist visits or so that I could fax them to the nurse when her numbers started going out of whack.
I needed the data presented in a clear manner so that I could catch downward or upward trends. So that I could recite our mathematical equations when discussing our numbers by phone.
Half per 50 over 150, except school lunches which are half per 50 over 200. One per 15 at breakfast, but one per 20 at lunch and dinner. 0.30 units from 3 am to 8 am and 0.25 units from 8 am back until 3 am.
(For anyone not entrenched in diabetes management, these are corrections for blood sugar levels, insulin boluses for the carbs consumed at meals, and basal rates of insulin delivery.)
It’s a wonder I can keep this straight in my own mind!
All this data management takes time. Time and energy in addition to that needed to parent a diabetic child, let alone the other aspects of my life: wife, parent to another child, employee.
At our most recent visit with the endocrinologist, 200 miles from our home, the doctor looked at my data print out and asked, “Do you enter this all in by hand?”
“Doesn’t your pump keep track of all this data?”
See that’s the thing, our pump does store data such as basal rates, blood glucose readings, and insulin boluses. I just can’t download it!
Almost every single piece of diabetes equipment interfaces with Windows, which I do not have.
The fact that we’ve blown through the money allotted in our Flexible Spending Account (FSA) with half of the fiscal year remaining and high costs of insulin, test strips, pump supplies, and all the other things we need to properly care for our daughter, it is difficult to justify spending money on a new computer at this point.
The insulin pump has made many aspects of daily diabetes management, well, more manageable. But I dream of the day that I can just plug our pump into a computer, download the data, view the charts, and even print them out for our medical care team.
And I dream of early bedtimes instead of late nights spent staring bleary-eyed at rows and rows of numbers.
With a family life that is often complicated, this is one thing that could be simple.
That’s why I am entering the Simplify My Life Sweepstakes.
The HP Mini with Windows 7 could simplify my life!
Not to mention the fact that it could help entertain my daughter while we are in the car for eight hours in one day traveling to and from her appointments or while we are in waiting rooms.
And it’s so small that it’s won’t weigh us down. We already have enough to lug around everywhere we go!
HP Mini 110: purple is my fave color!
- HP Mini 110: sleek design
Leave a comment on this post because they are randomly giving away three HP Mini 110-1100 by Studio Tord Boontje PCs to readers who leave a comment on entrants’ sweepstakes posts.
This post is an entry in the Simplify My Life Sweepstakes. I do not have a relationship with HP. But I really need a PC to download our insulin pump and glucose meter data.
{ 48 comments… read them below or add one }
You know Leighann dealing with diabetes every day is time consuming and stressful. We are lucky to be able to upload Tristan’s pump on our computer and have all of the data available to us. This helps us and our team make the right changes.
Good luck with the contest! I think that you definitely deserve to win one of the HD mini with window 7 because it will make your life easier. You work hard to manage your child’s diabetes and you deserve this tool to help you!
So to the people who are choosing winner……. CHOOSE HER! She deserves it!
Thanks Rachel! I can’t wait to be able to just plug it in and download. It was one of the things that was appealing about the pump. We’ve always been able to download our meter data…theoretically! But never could get it to work even running virtual Windows.
Didn’t see your tweet bout this, but found it tx to @sammolsonkasey. This is a perfect solution to not being able to get the data. Do you have an Apple, or just no PC at all?
While waiting to win, you might want to check out Kevin’s spreadsheet for tracking BGs, etc. I know a fair number of people use it.
Bernard- We’re a Mac family. It’s what we use at work and now at home. Though I think my husband is more used to PC’s. I wish the medical device companies would get with the program and realize that they need to develop software that is also Mac-compatible. And what would be even better is to take our data with us on our iPhones!
It sounds like you could certainly use this! Good luck and best wishes to your family.
A mini would definitely simplify my life because I wouldn’t have to lug around that big heavy laptop anymore!! And it would fit inside my handbag instead of being so conspicuous in a carry around laptop bag. And besides, you don’t always want to carry your laptop with you but leaving it in the car is a direct invitation to thieves to break in and steal it. Being able to carry it in my purse is a major advantage! Great giveaway!
I’m in the same boat. We have a Mac. I call MM every couple of months to see if their program will be coming out for the Mac. Plus my hubbie is constantly taking the computer and I need it. We need another computer!
Hey Leighann
Here is to fingers crossed and hope that you win.
The big D management can be quite stressing with all the stuff and numbers you have to keep up with that it should be a bit easier just a bit and anything that can be done to alleviate that is a welcome sight.
I am always surprised why apple with all its claim for ingenuity always comes up short when it comes to secondary software issues, I have a friend who has the mac and he keeps track of his numbers on my pc since I am a type 2 I don’t have to track as much data as he does. anyway good luck on the sweepstakes.
Ronn
Great post! This is actually the first time I have ventured over…. and this post correctly shows how mind baffling it can be to manage D. Even for those of us who have PCs!
good luck!
It is so true – Mac users are at a disadvantage because so little in the D world is compatible. Caleb recently received the USB Contour which is, but I haven’t had a chance to download it yet. I will let you know how it goes. Although it would mean carrying around an extra meter for OmniPod users. Perhaps it’s worth it since as a Mac myself, I have no data other than that which I track in my Excel spreadsheet.
awesome!! you deserve to win!!
Best of luck!!
hey Leighann!! Yes…you deserve it! i hope you win. heck, i hope i win too!!
Good luck, Leighann!
A HP Mini 110 would simplify my life by allowing me to keep up with all of my computer activities (blogging, emailing, entering contests, social networking, surfing the Internet, etc.) when I’m not able to be on my laptop (which just so happens to be a HP) for whatever reason. With 4 kids, the reason I’m not able to be on my laptop could be anything! :O
Good Luck to you! I entered, too!
This HP Mini is so fabulously and functionally and portable. I hope you win one too, as I know first hand how organized you need to be when it comes caring for a loved one with Diabetes.
Good Luck!
Twincere(at)gmail(dot)com
Good Luck! I would love to win a HP Mini too! I am a very busy Mom of two sons and could use some help getting things together.
Holy! Kudos to all of your strength and hard work!
Good luck in the contest!!
Good luck on winning the HP Mini. I’d love to have one also!
Jill G
Wow, that’s a lot of data you have to keep track of. Good luck! I have to do a lot of traveling and I use a friend’s extra laptop while I’m on the road. It would be great if I didn’t have to use his and didn’t have to carry such a big thing through airport security!
Ha… I also get the “if anybody was meant to have a kid with diabetes, it’s you” comment from people. I know they mean it as a compliment, but it drives me bananas.
We’ve also been in the market for a new computer. I would love to have a laptop that I could keep in the kitchen, so every time I need to look up a carb factor or something related to a recipe, I don’t need to run upstairs. Oh well, at least I’m getting my exercise!
I would like to have a small computer like this to be able to take anywhere for everyday tasks.
I truly admire your strength! I would LOVE to win this mini hp 110 to simplify and organize my crazy and fun life. I hope to win this!
There is no way the simplifying for me could top yours. Your an amazing mom! I wish you the best of luck!
this netbook would be great for anyone starting a diet and keeping track of their food take also.
wish I could win one too!
Good luck! I wish I could vote for you!
Visiting from Mom Bloggers Club!
This is such a great giveaway! I would love to simplify my life too!
So many moms could benefit from this!
God bless!
Good luck with the contest!
A mini would defiantely help us out for work. Both my husband and I work from home at times on desktops that we build ourselves. It works well for us because we can customize our machines and swap parts back and forth when one of us needs to upgrade and donate usable components to a charity that builds computers for low income kids. But it doesn’t work well when we have meetings and need to take data with us. Sometimes a flash drive just won’t work. A mini would be the perfect electronic data briefcase that we need!
Dude, I really really really want you to win this.
Something this small would be really convenient for me since I need a computer for work and it is light enough to take on the bus which I use to commute every day. I could check e-mails & bills on my commute. My old laptop was actually stolen recently so I would love a new one! Good luck!
I entered too..oh how I would love to own a sweet sweet mini! TO be able to have a mini to call my very own. No more fighing for computer time!
Good luck to both of us:)
modernmom at rocketmail dot com
PS I loved reading through your blog:)
In life, we are always taught that bigger is better. Well, that does not hold true for all aspects of my life. I am a mother. With this comes tons of responsibility. With all the chaos in the morning (getting son ready for school, me work), I’m lucky if I leave the house with a matching pair of shoes. I like order, planning, and to be on-top-of-it type of gadgets. If I win the HP 110 mini notebook, I may be able to gain some time – one that was lost in all the madness we call life – because I will be organized again. I can check my mail,respond, make appointments, create schedules, and socialize again. Besides, who wants to tote a laptop around the size and weight of a newborn baby? Heck, I mine as well get a sling for it (just kidding). The HP 110 mini notebook proves that big things can come in small packages
The size and weight of the beautiful HP Mini 110-1100 by Studio Tord Boontje would make it perfect for on-the-go computing. I would also be able to easily take it around the house and out to the back yard.
I was looking at the HP mini Tord and Windows 7 and love all the features of both. The laptop is beautiful and Windows 7 features would really simplify my life. I love that it has a large HD and it has quick access features to find the files I need. And there is fast web surfing.
Good luck!
member(dot)thao(at)gmail.com
I really hope you win one of the 3 laptops.
I would love to win this mini. It would definitley help organize and simplify my life.
A win for you would be well deserved
Good luck!
I would love to win one myself… it would certainly give me the freedom and mobility that I have been longing for and settle many family disputes over shared computer time.
Good luck to you!
I would love an HP mini! It would definitely simplify my life!
Good Luck!
an HP Mini 110 would simplify my life in ways that I can not even spell, lol
good luck to you and me
militaryfamof8@yahoo.com
Sounds like this would be a great tool for you. Good luck!
Good luck!
Man my life could use some simplifying! I would love to be able to write my blog posts on the go or during lunch breaks. Now if the HP Mini 110 could help me get my daughter to sleep through the night, I would be in LOVE (even more!)
This would be great! I’d love to be able to work on the go, like while I’m waiting for the kids to finish piano or dance lessons.
ajolly1456 at gmail dot com
I would love to win this. It simplify my life so much being the mom of 2 under 2 with lots of goals and dreams! Good luck!
Wow. Even as an accountant, I don’t think I could manage all those numbers for the insulin and whatnot. Ack!
Good luck to both of us in this contest!
a hp mini would be an awesome pc to have thanks for the chance to win eaglesforjack@gmail.com I love the size
I am in the process of trying to start my own business and I currently work from home…but I rarely stay in one place with my laptop. As I suffer from degenerative disc disease in my cervical spine – coupled with a heavy laptop – changing my “workspace” throughout the day is NOT an easy task.
The HP Mini would simplify my life by allowing me to move my computer from place to place on my own…no more bothering the rest of the family! This netbook would be a true lifesaver!
Thanks so much!
Hi D-Mom,
I found your blog via Lorraine’s. My son was diagnosed with Type 1 on December 1, 2008 and I don’t know where I have been this last year but obviously not on the internet. I can’ t believe how many great parenting with diabetes blogs there are out there, that I missed upon my initial search. Yours will be added to my blogroll. I look forward to connecting and learning from you, what a great resource!
Thank you
Hi Leighann,
so sorry to hear that you didn’t get choosen as a finalist. But, I might be able to help you. I just so happen to have a practically new (used it 2-3 times) HP Mini 1000 netbook-viviennne tam designer edition. If you are interrested in it let me know. I would love nothing more than to help out a fellow D-Mom. As I am able to download my 6 yr olds’s pump and e-mail it directly to his nurse for weekly changes in his pump. Seriously…. Contact me if your interrested!!