Are they going to eat that?

This diabetes thing has been a long, strange trip. Just kidding, it hasn't been that long; it just seems like it. Lately, I've been struck repeatedly by something odd: I forget that other people aren't diabetic.

I see people heaping their plates with pasta. I see a person at the next table in a restaurant eating Banana Spring Rolls (that's the value for 1/2, not a whole dessert). My husband just made me a cake for his birthday (don't ask *me*), and it takes me a minute to remember that he *can* just eat it. All those other people probably have no idea how many carbs (or calories) are in whatever they're eating. It's just seeming strange to me right now.

I don't know why this is happening. Maybe it's because I've been often having dinner with J for about five years now. Maybe it's because most of the people I talk to online are diabetic, too. Maybe I'm living in diabetic world. (Woohoo, where are the t-shirts?) Or maybe more people should listen to "Pancreas" by Weird Al.

Diet?

People seem to think I am weird for carrying around Diastix. Sometimes even people who later ask to use them. Well, they're cheaper than test strips for testing drinks.

Lately I've been having bad luck with drinks. I went to dinner with my housemate at a new restaurant and we both got diet RC. His was diet and mine was regular. Huh? The waiter said he pressed the same button, so we concluded it was the machine (although you kind of have to say that or people get offended). In fact, he got pretty agitated anyway (he kept insisting it *was* diet, up until I showed him the strip). I don't really get what happened, but I guess sometimes when it runs out it can switch over to another tank? He got us some water and then never came back to our table. Now I have to wonder if he got so worked up because they ran out of diet and he thought we wouldn't notice.

Then we were having dinner at a large chain restaurant and we both ordered diet Sprite. We both got regular. The waiter said he'd have them check the machine and then came back with some diet. No need to get all upset, heh.

A couple days ago we went to see a movie. I got a large diet Coke (aren't they all large?). Our housemate watched them pour it, so he knew it came out of the "diet" dispenser. I tested it and got inconclusive results, so I tested it with my meter (as control solution, of course) and got 150. Diet is "error" and regular is 500-700. I drank it anyway, but bolused for 10g. It seemed to be okay.

The oddest thing is that even though I can always tell regular from diet, in all those cases it was unclear to me because the mix was pretty off. Sometimes fountain drinks can taste really odd. Still, I've sure learned to trust that nagging feeling!

Doctors With Disabilities

A friend is involved with the launch of a new site: Doctors With Disabilities, for health professions students and health care professionals. It's wiki-style, hosted by the Disapedia, a disability wiki. There's also a forum for messages. Diabetes is definitely included.

It's not just for doctors and med students; those in allied health professions are very welcome. The focus will be on sharing tips among students and people interested in the medical field and those in practice. Check it out!

No kidding

While I was browsing an online pet pharmacy, I saw an insulin section. Well, of course I had to go take a look. This phrase stopped me in my tracks:
Please note: All Insulin must be shipped by 1 day air service.

Why on earth is it that the pet mail order pharmacy has this down and the *human* pharmacies do not?