The past two days have been rough on me physically, though. I've been doing so much walking, and non-stop activity, that I have had several bouts of hypoglycemia ever since arriving. My insulin needs are certainly much lower, considering the level of activity I'm experiencing in college, and thus until I catch on I need to keep a close eye on my blood sugars.
I first arrived at Wesleyan on Saturday, eager to get into my room and start moving in! I had already picked my dorm in one of the two freshman residence halls on campus (Banks Hall). When I went up to the desk to get my room keys, however, I was told that my keys weren't there yet and that they would be momentarily. After some further conversation I learned that my dorm had been switched to the upperclassman dorm Hightower Hall, because I had too many credits to be allowed to stay in the freshman dorms. I was a little disappointed not to be with the rest of my freshman class, but apparently in the time between then and Summer Orientation, Wesleyan had received my final transcript from VCC and made me a Junior. So, determined to make the best of it, I drove over to the Hightower parking lot and started unloading some of my bins, elated to finally be able to arrange my room and make it my own.
I carried items in, walked out, in, out, heave, push, pull. Suddenly my legs felt weak from underneath me. I ignored it for a while, too occupied to want to pay my attention-demanding Diabetes any mind, but soon it became too much to handle. My head swam through a Diabetic-induced fog and I had broken out in a cold, skin-drenching sweat as my heartbeat raced 200 miles an hour. The world spun around me. I tested my blood sugar as I collapsed on my truck's seat. The meter stared back at me, 35. I was overwhelmed by the low, incapacitated. I breathed heavily as I sat in the heat, scrambling for my glucose tabs, granola bars, fruit cups, whatever little snacks I had left. I shoveled them into my mouth frantically, trying to stave off the low. It took nearly 30 minutes to recover, during which the heat outside as I sat in my truck made little impression on me as I tried to keep calm and gain back my strength. I bit back bitter frustration. Before Diabetes moving in would have never been such a problem...
I took a break for lunch in the cafeteria, and afterwards Donnie and Jake came by to help me unload the heavy stuff. I was so grateful as I was able to sit back and give myself much needed rest. They did in 30 minutes what would have taken me all day to do, which was haul all of the stuff from my truck into my new room.
I carried items in, walked out, in, out, heave, push, pull. Suddenly my legs felt weak from underneath me. I ignored it for a while, too occupied to want to pay my attention-demanding Diabetes any mind, but soon it became too much to handle. My head swam through a Diabetic-induced fog and I had broken out in a cold, skin-drenching sweat as my heartbeat raced 200 miles an hour. The world spun around me. I tested my blood sugar as I collapsed on my truck's seat. The meter stared back at me, 35. I was overwhelmed by the low, incapacitated. I breathed heavily as I sat in the heat, scrambling for my glucose tabs, granola bars, fruit cups, whatever little snacks I had left. I shoveled them into my mouth frantically, trying to stave off the low. It took nearly 30 minutes to recover, during which the heat outside as I sat in my truck made little impression on me as I tried to keep calm and gain back my strength. I bit back bitter frustration. Before Diabetes moving in would have never been such a problem...
I took a break for lunch in the cafeteria, and afterwards Donnie and Jake came by to help me unload the heavy stuff. I was so grateful as I was able to sit back and give myself much needed rest. They did in 30 minutes what would have taken me all day to do, which was haul all of the stuff from my truck into my new room.
The next morning, as I hovered the line between sleep and wakefulness in my bed, my body suddenly sat up with a jerk. I grabbed my meter and tested with shaky hands. 45. I hurried and ate the remainder of my snacks but grew worried about if I happened to have another low. There was no breakfast on Sunday, just brunch at 12. I recovered and then grabbed my car keys, walked outside and then went over to my car. I drove to the Kroger right down the street first, a walk I would have enjoyed if I didn't have to worry about my being so low. I grabbed granola bars, two different packs of rice cakes, and oatmeal creme pies (my secret addiction, shh, don't tell my Diabetes.) I checked out and then drove to Walmart to get cheaper deals on soda, and decided to try Diet Sundrop, which is actually super delicious. I munched chocolate rice cakes on the way back to Wesleyan to appease my growling stomach and returned in just a few short moments to the school. I spied a large group of girls gathered next to Banks Hall (right across from my hall) in their pajamas. Confused, I wondered if there was something on the schedule that I'd missed. I later learned that the girls in the freshman dorm Wortham had woke up to a fire alarm, something I had been very glad to miss!
I hauled in my grocery bags, put the items in the minifridge, and went on with my day. I did not bolus for a SINGLE MEAL that day and yet I was still running on the low side. That evening after all of the events of the day I tested to find an unexpected 46. I hurriedly ate three rice cakes (33 carbs) and waited 15 minutes. I felt even worse, and tested again. 46. The rice cakes hadn't even made a dent in my apparently copacetic blood sugar. I knew perhaps I should wait a little longer but I went to the hall kitchen and popped popcorn (26 carbs), collapsed on the cold linoleum floors and waited in the kitchen as it cooked. I took it back to my room to inhale. The damage afterwards: A BG of 201. But that was better than 46. I gave myself 19 units of Lantus that night instead of 21 to hopefully stave off any more hypos.
But this morning I awoke, shaking, to once again find a BG of 46 (can anyone say "magic number"?), and thanked Christ for rice cakes as I ate more. I sighed. Thankfully, though, 19 units of Lantus has seemed to work just perfect so far, and it might be that all of my insulin needs have returned back to my pre-summer levels. In which case, I'll keep slowly backing off on my insulin until I find the correct balance again. Diabetes is keeping me on my toes this first week of college!
But this morning I awoke, shaking, to once again find a BG of 46 (can anyone say "magic number"?), and thanked Christ for rice cakes as I ate more. I sighed. Thankfully, though, 19 units of Lantus has seemed to work just perfect so far, and it might be that all of my insulin needs have returned back to my pre-summer levels. In which case, I'll keep slowly backing off on my insulin until I find the correct balance again. Diabetes is keeping me on my toes this first week of college!
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