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April 29, 2008 at 7:33 am | In Challenges, Cystic Fibrosis, Cystic Fibrosis Related Diabetes, Nutrition, continuous glucose monitor, diabetes, insulin pump | Leave a Comment
Tags: GreatWest Healthcare, health insurance, insulin, insulin shots, insurance, insurance appeal

I think it is time for an update on the case of the un-insurance-covered insulin pump and continuous glucose monitor system.

My doctor said we are finally ready to pursue my final appeal of insurance coverage for an insulin pump and continuous glucose monitor. It took a while to find and compile research studies since simply there are so few (we even had to wait for one to complete!). CF related diabetes is very rare, considering the size of the general population and it is also a fairly newly discovered complication of CF only since us cystics are living so much longer now days. I have figured there are only approximately 4,000 people in the US with CF related Diabetes. Finding info on it, none the less, hard data and research studies is very complicated.

Regardless of this, my insurance companay doesn’t care that I need to take up to 8-9 insulin shots a day, if I were to follow my prescribed nutritional needs. That is on a rough day. At a minimum I take 5 shots a day. Most diabetics with Type 1 diabetes take about 3-4 shots a day, minimum. My nutritional needs are much different than someone with Type 1, which makes things even harder to balance. My insurance company is not allowing coverage for an insulin pump because I do not have Type 1 diabetes…. now does this sound fair to you?!

I sent in my paperwork the other day, and my doc is sending in her stuff soon. Please wish good thoughts and send positive vibes for me and my future pump. Hopefully this time the reviewers will actually listen to my doctor and to common sense!

It’s so good to be free!

April 22, 2008 at 12:35 pm | In Challenges, Cystic Fibrosis, Cystic Fibrosis Related Diabetes, Nutrition, Tune-up, diabetes | Leave a Comment
Tags: bills, fat, insulin, PICC line, Prednisone, steroids

Muppets of Oz Scarefrog Today I feel like the Scarecrow in the Wizard of Oz just after Dorthy helps him down off of his watch-post. Dancing around with so little grace. “I am freeee!” I am so happy to be off the IVs and have that painful PICC line out. This weekend was so busy, I didn’t really have a moment to think about it. Except for when I hopped in the shower without having to wrap my arm up in Glad Press-n-Seal (the best stuff in the world to wrap up with! (Learned about it from my step-sis who used it when she had a cast. She is so handy!), it felt so naughty! hehehe

Last week I was on a short burst of Prednisone to help ease some of the inflammation in my lungs. What a number that did to my blood sugar levels (pun intended )! Can you say SKY high?!! I was on twice the regular amount of long-lasting insulin, and my insulin to carb ratio was 1gram:5units, which is also twice the amount of my usual. It took a while to figure that out so on average I was taking 6 shots a day, to cover everything. Apparently steroids, natural and medication-wise, have a huge affect on the body’s glucose levels. I am going to look more into it because my geeky mind is really curious. I’ll let you know more about it when I do.

I am not sure if it was the Prednisone, or if I was just feeling better, but my appetite was HUUUGE! I gained 11 pounds over the course of those 3 weeks, from 104lbs to 115lbs. Broken Piggy Bank Unfortunately stress really affects my appetite and when I went through that heartache, I dropped most of the weight. But I am doing better now and hoping that I can regain most of it back. I felt soooo healthy. I am one of those rare women who love to hear “you are looking fat!” Because to me, it means I am looking healthy! I REALLY do not want to look at my food bill from the past month… I bet it is as large as my appetite was!