2008 February « Salty and Sweet

Feelin icky

February 25, 2008 at 1:01 pm | In Life in General | 1 Comment
Tags: cold, sick

I can never tell at first if it is a sinus infection acting up (which I am already on antibiotics for), or if I am coming down with a cold. It seems like the symptoms are so similar. Yuck yuck yuck!

Home from work early since I have no idea what is going on, I am setting up camp on the sofa with chicken noodle soup doctored with extra garlic. Hopefully what ever is invading my sinuses will not be there for an extended stay.

Is it just a coincidence that this is the second time I have gotten sick this season and both times I had scheduled an appointment with the free personal trainer at my gym? Is my body rebelling before I even go? How crazy!

A funny for you

February 22, 2008 at 12:14 pm | In Life in General | Leave a Comment

Referral

My biggest CFRD mistake – the Atkins diet

February 21, 2008 at 7:38 pm | In Cystic Fibrosis, Cystic Fibrosis Related Diabetes, diabetes | Leave a Comment

For the first 6 years after my diabetes diagnosis, I lived in a slight land of denial. I was very overwhelmed. As if CF wasn’t enough to deal with alone, now I had another major disease. I also was in my early twenties and thought I knew everything…. ok, I never really grew out of that.

insulin drops I hated taking insulin shots and did not see the purpose. I tried to cut carbs out of my diet as much as possible so I wouldn’t need to take extra shots (occasionally I am still guilty of this, bad habits are hard to break). Hoping the minimal would get me by. ‘Come on, other diabetics were told to do that!’ I was soooo wrong! CFRD does not work that way.

Insulin works by helping protein, fat and sugar leave the blood and enter the cells where they are used for energy. Insulin is the only chemical in the body that moves nutrients from the blood stream into the cells. Without insulin and without nutrients your cells will starve. By not taking my insulin, I was starving my body. My body proved me this was true by dropping to 99 pounds on my already skinny 5′5″ frame. Once I started taking insulin on a more regular basis I quickly gained over eight pounds in just a few months!

It is super important to not cut the carbs if you have CFRD, unless your doctor suggests it. Your body needs to food for it’s cells. Also, it is important to have the right carbohydrate to insulin ratio as out of control CFRD causes all the similar complications other diabetics can get. Not wanting to add to the list, Cystics need to be even more careful as uncontrolled CFRD has shown to cause a large decline in

pulmonary function (I went from the low 80% to the low 50%)

weight loss (I went from 109lbs to 99lbs)

and not to get to scary, but an increase in morbidity and mortality (well, thank goodness, I am not dead yet)

So be careful and listen to your doctor!!!

Random points of interest

February 19, 2008 at 12:27 pm | In Challenges, Cystic Fibrosis, Cystic Fibrosis Related Diabetes, diabetes, insulin pump, insurance | 1 Comment
Tags: c-peptide, insurance appeal, insurance discrimination, low blood sugar, pretzles, snacks, thank you

I have been in constant contact, sending at least a half dozen emails a day, with my clinic since this insurance company vs. the insulin pump fight started. We are currently working on a second, and final, appeal.

I spoke with the insurance co, they believe their independent reviewers are up to date with all the latest info in their field. I approximate 4,800 people in the US have CFRD. How is every single endocrine specialist supposed to know the ins and outs of such a rare disease? My insurance “assured” me that their independent reviewers are up to date with diabetes (no mention of CFRD). Why am I not convinced?! Ha!

I am able to request my next appeal to be done by a specialist in CFRD, but I will not be assured that my request will be granted.

Learned something new today thanks to Dr. J. I have a normal c-peptide level, which the insurance is using to deny my claim. If I had an abnormal c-peptide level, this would diagnose Type 1 (low level) or Type 2 (high level) diabetes. CFRD is neither, which is why my levels are “normal” and why I have CFRD and not Type 1 or Type 2.

I want to send out a special “thank you” to my CF clinic nurse. I can’t thank her enough for all the help and support she has given me over the years. I know I am getting the best care because she always goes over and beyond to make sure of it.

This is an interesting fact. Colorado is a state that allows health insurance discrimination. A healthy friend of mine, “healthy” with exception to a small shoulder pain he had last year (which was treated with a cortisone shot and has not reappeared), was denied an individual policy because of the shoulder issue. So I really doubt I could get a self-insured policy in this state. I may have to consider something else.

yum yum!

Just started shaking, dizzy, and slightly confused, feeling like I am in a tunnel…. checked sugars, 74… off to go get a snack! Yum yum chocolate covered pretzels here I come!

P.S. Thanks for your support Jesse!!

Denied again – Update – the letter

February 15, 2008 at 11:42 am | In Challenges, Cystic Fibrosis, Cystic Fibrosis Related Diabetes, diabetes, insulin pump, insurance | 4 Comments
Tags: appeal, CGMS, decision, denial letter, GreatWest Healthcare, insurance coverage

I received the latest letter of denial from my insurance company.

Here’s what the letter says:
“This appeal was reviewed by an independent external consultant, Board Certified in Internal Medicine with a Sub Specialty Certificate in Endocrinology Diabetes & Metabolism….
… Although the patient has met the criteria of being on on intensified insulin therapy program, and has a hemoglobin A1C of greater than 7%, there is no documentation to support low endogenous levels in the member. Her C-peptide level is within normal limits, which is not unexpected, since cystic fibrosis is associated with impaired glucose tolerance rather than primarily decreased insulin production.”

Now, I am quite confused. I thought that CFRD was caused because of decreased insulin production because the pancreas is damaged and not able to produce enough insulin to keep blood glucose at safe levels? Could their “expert” be wrong?!

(-sarcastic comment warning-) I am wondering if the independent reviewer believes that I am overweight (5′5″ 107lbs) and should control his assumption of “Type 2″ diabetes by dieting. OH PLEASE!!

Note: I do NOT have Type 1 OR Type 2 diabetes. I have CF Related Diabetes. It is a whole different bear all it’s own.

Here is the denial for the continuous glucose monitor:

“The continuous glucose monitor was denied again because it “is still considered experimental and investigational, with the therapeutic benefit yet to be proven in large-scale long-term studies. … continuous glucose monitoring system is considered experimental / investigational / unproven and is not in accordance with generally accepted standards of medical practice at he the present time, it would not be considered medically necessary.”

Does any one have any comments or suggestions about how to refute this claim??

I have found out that my insurance, GreatWest Healthcare, is notorious for denying coverage for insulin pumps. Unfortunately I can not switch my insurance policy, as it is the only one offered by my employer.

Hi to all my new visitors!

February 15, 2008 at 7:49 am | In Life in General, Support | Leave a Comment
Tags: shirts, shop, t-shirts

Welcome! I see Salty and Sweet has had a lot of new visitors from all over the world recently!

Thanks for checking out my site. Just wanted to let you know that I will be adding a t-shirt shop very soon! Come back and check it out. We, with help from my friends, are scheming up some fun and funny designs. So keep checking in to see what we come up with!