Win a Trip to Call To Congress

http://www.stepout.diabetes.org Earn a chance to win a trip to Call to Congress in Washington, DC in March 2013! We're giving away two individual packages, which include round-trip airfare and two nights at the conference hotel. To earn entry in the drawing: Be a Diabetes Advocate—Sign up Join (or start) a local Advocates in Action Step Out team Meet fundraising eligibility requirements Individual walkers: Raise $500 or more Team captains: Raise $1,000 or more for whole team

The Blood Sugar Wizard Interview

The Blood Sugar Wizard Show Tune in tomorrow Tuesday at 11am to Niketa Calame voice of Young Nala in The Lion King interview about her type one diabetes. To call in during the show 714-529-0629

Niketa Calame singing Fever at House Of Blues for Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Step Out Walk Award Ceremony

PreExisting Discrimination

I was in the hospital pretty much all of November at Harbor City Kaiser.  Upon discharge I was given a wonderful medical team that was going to help me handle my condition.  I had a few follow ups most of December and I filed for Kaiser Insurance.  When I got my DENIAL letter the reason they gave me was that 1. I had been in the hospital in the past 12 months, 2. The amount of medication I was on,  and 3. The type of medication I was on.
I thought that Obama has some kind of act that prevented pre-existing condition discrimination.  I couldn't believe it. So basically because I will need my insurance more than your average person I don't qualify because I will be "using" it too much.  Now I have to go back to Habor UCLA which after my last ordeal of waiting in the emergency hallway on a gurney in pain for 12 hours before I even saw a doctor and they mis-diagnosed what was going on and they didn't even change me into a gown and I ended up coming back the very next night because they didn't treat what was going on.  As soon as I went to Kaiser the third night it was like heaven and hell difference in treatment and actively trying to find the solution. Kaiser immediately knew they needed to admit me and keep me there until they figured out what was wrong and how to treat it upon discharge.
I mean I really don't know why through the decades the government has tried to make people scared of universal health care like the boogie man is going to be in your health affairs if we make it universal.  Hello its not some innovative alien idea the rest of the freakin world is doing just fine with it.  I'm soo beyond pissed I don't know what to do. I am going to apply for Kaiser insurance again and maybe take some of the meds I'm on off the application and see what that does.  They have some kind of pre existing insurance but that would not allow me to be with the amazing team that has been following me since November.  I mean its like its a freakin application for college or a phd program. I thought I get to pick where I want to be its like they get to pick even if you have the money for it.
Have any other type one's been through this struggle? If so what did you do? Are you still fighting for it?  I guess this situation only applies to folks who are independent contractors or entrepreneur or artist because most of the 9-5 world simply gets the insurance through their normal jobs but I've even heard some 9-5ers complain about the health packages their jobs gave them, and wouldn't let their family be on the plan and all kinds of crazy stuff.

Going to pray on it and get creative. Because Diabetes and no health insurance is a formula for a major disaster. Thanks government I really appreciate how you take care of your citizens, its just simply wonderful.  Well at least they funded some of the research programs that can contribute to finding a cure and prevention methods.

sincerely,
pissed

Niketa Calame's Interview on BlogTalkRadio

Click here to Take a listen to my interview on my career and type one diabetes with a few callers who were moved by my story. Had fun today on the Motown Maurice Show

Promise To Remember Me Video

In September I was asked to record lead vocals on Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Campaign song "Promise to Remember Me" along with other type one children.  We had a blast. They played the video at the annual JDRF walk at dodger stadium a few weeks ago for millions of people to watch and learn.  What a blessing just a great experience.

13 Days in The Hospital

I cannot believe that I was in the hospital for 13 days.  The diagnosis Gastroparesis.  Which is caused generally by diabetes.  The nerves in the stomach are damaged and therefore the stomach doesn't contract as it should which slows down the digesting process.  This is a problem that will always exist now just like neurpathy but it is treatable.  Treatment: Low fiber diet, 5 small meals a day every 3 to 4 hours as appose to 3 larger meals a day.  I have already started to switch to a more vegetarian based meal plan with meat and starch as my small side dishes hoping that, that will help my digestive system along.

Symptoms that made me go into the er:  Strong abdominal pain, constipation for more than 3 days, strong burning sensation in my chest and upper abdomen.  They gave me antibiotic and pain medication for the first couple of days. They ran several test and came to the conclusion of gastroparesis and gastritis.

I ended up in the hospital for my 31st birthday which was really depressing but the one good thing that came out of all of this is I am back with Kaiser and getting the proper treatment a diabetic should have.  I have a wonderful primary doctor and I meet my nurse practitioner in a week.  I learned that I got my 13 count A1C down to 10.  It should be under 7 so I have a ways to go but I am on the right track.

Its during the challenging times when you find out who is in your corner.  I have so many loved ones all of my friends have been the best cheerleading squad I could have to get better.  Most of the folks close to me came out to the hospital to see how I was doing. The love of my life has shown nothing but unconditional and unselfish love and support for me. I knew already that he was the one but times like this confirm that he is heaven sent.  Of course my mother has been in my corner the whole time helping me take the sometimes nasty medication I needed to take to get better and out of the hospital.

Now it becomes a daily balancing act to get my sugar levels, my gastroparesis and my neuropathy under constant control. It is very challenging but I have all the right people in my corner and now I even have the right medical team helping me out. So God willing i will be able to take control of these conditions.