Bloodcount meter

It can be really hard to find a bloodcount meter that you really like and that works well for you. There are so many meters to choose from. I always found it really annoying that I had to do my bloodcount and then remember what it was and put it in my pump, I would sometimes forget what my levels were and then put it into my pump wrong.

Recently when I was at a hospital appointment this lady in the clinic showed me and my mum the Contour Next Link bloodcount meter. I was already using the Contour Link meter and the Contour Next Link was a newer version of my meter. At first I wasn't really sure about changing meters as I really liked the meter I was using and if I changed meters it would mean having to get new test strips that the new meter used and also it would mean I would have to learn how to use the new meter as all meters work differently.

The lady was explaining to me and my mum what was different between the Contour Link and the Contour Next Link. She said that the Contour Next Link had a USB connection for charging and downloading readings, this meant I wouldn't have to pay for batteries for my meter as it didn't need them and I could also download my meter on to the laptop so that I could  if I had any patterns in my levels. On the Contour Next Link when you tested your levels and they where running high or low the meter would let you know by the colour of the numbers of your levels. For example if your levels were 3.4 the numbers would light up orange as say at the bottom of the screen that your levels would low. You could also set reminders on the Contour Next Link, so if you need to check your levels in an hour because they were running high all you have to do is set a reminder on your pump and it will make a noise to remind your to test your levels. Also on the Contour Next Link you can see how your levels have been trending and tells you your average levels over 14 days.  I really liked the sound of the Contour Next Link so the hospital let me take one home with me to use.

I have now been using the Contour Next Link for about a month and I love it. We did loss the USB led to charge it though so my mum had to ring up the company and they replaced it for me and send me a spare meter too encase I loss the meter or if it brakes. I honestly think the best meters I have ever used are the Contour Next Link and the Contour Link, its so much easier having a meter that links to your pump so that you don't have to remember what your levels were.

I know it can be really hard to find a meter that you really like and that works best for you but there are so many meters I am sure you will find one. If any of you are on a Medtronic pump I recommend you try the Contour Next Link meter or the Contour Link meter.
Always remember you are stronger than you think! 

Pressure

Having diabetes can be really stressful and emotional at times, you can sometimes feel like there is a lot of pressure on you.  Trying to achieve perfect numbers, carb count accurately so your levels don't go high or low, trying to get the right balance of insulin to food, trying to not over treat low levels or high levels, trying to keep your levels perfect when your ill, excited or sad, trying to get a perfect hba1c. No mater how much your try, it can sometimes feel like you are going backwards with your diabetes instead of forward. It can be really hard at times but don't worry you're not the only person who feels like this, everyone goes through a stage like this.

As you can probably tell from my last post my levels have been running really high because I have been ill, my cannula feel out in the night, I've had ketones and some other things. I have been trying everything to get my levels down and back to normal but nothing really seems to be working, I have tried using temp basals, corrections and it seems to work for a while but then my levels go high again, its been so annoying.

I have a hospital appointment on the 9th January (Thursday) and I have been really worried and scared about going. I really don't want to have my hba1c done because I had worked so hard to so hard to get my hba1c down to 8.1 (it used to be 11.4)and now this happens. My hba1c is probably going to be really high again. I did think about asking the hospital not to do my hba1c as I have had a bad patch with isn't my fault and I have been doing everything I can to try and sort my levels out but it hasn't really been working.

After talking to some people I realised that at the end of the day you cant always have perfect levels, perfect hba1c, its just not possible. We are human and we cant be perfect at everything. Its not our fault if we have a stage where are levels aren't perfect as long as your try you best and get your levels back on track it doesn't matter. Always remember you are stronger then you think you are, you will get through times like this I promise

Surprised

Do you ever feel like every time you have a hospital appointment the doctors always find something to moan about? I feel like this nearly every time I have a hospital appointment. No matter how hard I try the doctors always seem to find something to moan about. This makes me not want to go to the appointments because they always seem negative so I don't see the point. It can make you feel unhappy and annoyed when you have been doing everything right but the doctors still aren't happy with your levels or your hba1c.

Today I had a hospital appointment in the morning. I really didn't want to go to the hospital because I didn't want the doctors to tell me that my levels weren't good or that my hba1c was too high. I didn't really want to find out what my hba1c was because at the beginning of the year my hba1c was 12+ and 3 months I had got it down to 8.7, I really wanted my hba1c to be below 8 today.

I was so happy and surprised when I came home from my hospital appointment. The doctors and nurses never moaned at me one they were so impressed and happy with my diabetes and how much I have changed, they were proud of me (: The doctor couldn't believe how much I have improved since the beginning of this year. My hba1c is 8.1 which I am really happy with because it is nearly below 8. I couldn't believe all the things that the doctor and nurse had said, it was all good things, they said my levels have improved a lot and my hba1c was really good. All I need to do is bolus for my breakfast 5 mins before I eat and this will help my levels be lower at 10am and she said to keep doing what I have been doing and my levels will get better and my hba1c will go down even more. I was so happy with my appointment today because the doctor never moaned at me and it should that all my hard work had paid off (:

I know it can always feel like every time you go to a hospital appointment all they do is moan at you and tell you to do more things but just think how happy you will be when all of your hard work pays off. It will make you so happy when you get your levels and hba1c down; it’s an amazing feeling knowing that you are the reason why your levels are so good. I know you will be able to get your levels down and get a good hba1c because you are a lot stronger than you think, always remember that.