Frustrated With The System

So I was on this insurance called Healthy Way LA for a few years. After the Obama Covered California went into affect we were told that Healthy Way LA was going to discontinue and I would automatically be moved to MediCal.  So that transition went somewhat smoothly and I received my Identification Card. Now out of nowhere I received a letter saying I am no longer qualified for MediCal and my benefits would stop at the end of this month which is tomorrow. Great so I have Type One Diabetes so unlike other people with health insurance who hardly ever even use it I need mine. I go to the doctor every month and the supplies that I need for Diabetes are always needing to be refilled. There is no way I could just walk into a pharmacy and pay out of my pocket the cost of what that all cost not to mention the multiple visits I have at the doctor and nurse practitioner for my management. It really makes me steaming mad when someone down at DSS is just pushing buttons and sends me a letter saying that I don't qualify. Obviously every situation is different and I was coming from another program that automatically made me qualify.  So now I am trying to see the covered california site to see what i qualify for there and I set up an account and it wont let me log in great. I cant restart the application because it registers that my account already exist, the account they wont let me log into.  This has just been a nightmare week except for the fun and good times at Thanksgiving.  I really don't know where to go or what to do. I was also told by my nurse practitioner before the universal health care came into affect that I should be able to now be eligible for some of the diabetic management supplies like the pump or continuous glucose monitor.

hmmm stuck in a corner.

Bad A1C reading this week :(

So I have received some bad news on my a1c journey.  I was down to 8.5 which by the way was great progress for me since I don't have a cgm or pump or any other of the modern equiptment that other type 1s with a1c levels of 7 or below have.  My health insurance does not cover the pump or the cgm (continuous glucose monitor).  I know that with a CGM it will change my life.  I had one once for two months and my a1c dropped 5 points. You can set the meter to beep when you blood sugar is going to high or too low. I had it to beep if I was heading over 180 or under 70. This allowed my blood sugar to remain in target most of the day for the weeks I was with the CGM.  Dexcom has a new one that I really want. It would be amazing if DEXCOM could pay it forward and send me one along with test supplies. I even contacted them and proposed this ask and in turn I would blog and facebook and instagram my progress from using their cgm.  I heard back from someone and they said that they would forward my request to whom it may concern in the company so you never know what asking will allow you to get.  The cgm tracks your blood sugar multiple times ever hour so you are able to visually see how your body is processing when you eat, after you eat, while you exercise, after you exercise, while you are sleeping. ITs a way better understanding of your body and the disease rather than a one time stick 7 times a day with the blood meter. But for now I have to do with what I have. I am in a diabetes study where they are watching my levels every week, so that helps a bit with accountability. 

I am getting married in 4 months and I would like my sugars to be at a 7 or lower a1c consistently before we start trying for a baby.  In fact I have been advised not even to start on babies until the a1c is at 7 or below for at least 6 months. In other words its needs to be a total turn around in my diabetes care before it would be safe enough to try.  I am praying to God to help guide me without the advanced tools to get to a better daily level.  Type one is just so tricky. I can wake in the 300's having not even had a huge dinner. So for those who do not have it and tell me you need to do better with tracking your sugars and such just have no idea what they are talking about and sometimes it makes me so mad but I just try and think of the fact that they are concerned even if they don't know what they are talking about with respect to advice for my particular type 1.

Step Out for Life Song

Getting creative with dessert

I am always searching the web for new receipies for regular food options as well as dessert. There are so many good finds out there. Just because we are sugarfree does not mean our diet has to be boring. For example I am def. going to try this yummy delight below at home. If I like the turn out I will take it to the next function and see if people even notice that they are not even getting sugar.

 

Double Ginger Frozen Yogurt Sandwiches

Thin, crispy ginger cookies are perfect for making mini ice cream sandwiches. Double the gingery flavor with the addition of sweet and spicy crystallized ginger in the frozen yogurt. It’s hard to eat just one!

• Calories - 70
• Carbohydrates - 13g
• Saturated Fat - 0g
• Protein - 2g
• Sodium - 65mg
• Dietary Fiber - 0g

Read this great diabetes blog entry about 10 things not to say to someone with diabetes it was hilarious. Its nice to laugh every now and then about this life long disease. I think people don't realize first of all it is a disease and it is life altering and life long condition for type one.

Diabetes research study

I have been apart of he diabetes research study for a couple of months now and I think that it is helping. I'm on The path to a1c being 7 It is 8.5 right now and it was 9.3 so I am going in the right direction.

My Help Mate

It is so important to have a strong support system when you are dealing with a life long disease.  My fiance has been there for me in so many ways. He has lobbied on the hill to get more funding for preventive care. He has gotten up in the middle of the night to get me candy so that my low blood sugar would rise to a safe zone. He has come with me to diabetes functions to learn more about the disease.
I was speaking at a diabetes camp two years ago and Donovan was with me. A mother of a young type 1 diabetic burst into tears because she saw the support my then boyfriend was giving me. She said it gives her hope that her daughter will find someone who will be able to deal with the disease her daughter has and love her.

We share to inspire and uplight one higher than ourselves