Dear Anonymous Commenter,
1. LASIK, not lazik. You'll notice that I've actually spelled it out for you in the post.
2. Are you implying that I should have gastric bypass surgery? If so, this is most disconcerting. I'm not sure if you know me, but I don't quite qualify for gastric bypass surgery. My BMI is normal, and though I'm definitely chubbier than I like right now, I'm by no means obese.
It's kind of you to think of me, but you're wrong if you're thinking that gastric bypass surgey can help my Type 1 diabetes. See Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder. My immune system attacked my pancreas and now it's kaput. The result is the inability to produce insulin and regulate the level of glucose in my blood. The insulin pump replaces the broken pancreas in the best way doctors currently know how.
You're probably thinking of Type 2 diabetes. This is the disorder where a person's body continues to produce insulin, it's just really bad about using it correctly. It can be caused by a number of factors, including just getting old, but one of the most popular reasons to blame right now is obesity, which is what the gastric bypass surgery is trying to address. Being overweight is a major factor of developing Type 2 diabetes. It is NOT, in any way, related to Type 1 diabetes.
So, there's your first mistake. If you're recommending that I get gastric bypass surgery, you have effectively just recommended that I surgerically starve myself.
Your second mistake is believing everything you read in the news. This study says that gastric bypass has the great benefit of "curing" diabetes. I hope that for many of the patients, that's true, it would be great. Unfortunately, since the study didn't look at 5 year, 10 year, or 20 year follow up results, we'll never know if that claim is actually true, and the patients were cured for life, or if their condition actually returned because their treatment was really only a band aid for whatever caused them to become obese to begin with.
See, something made these people obese. The weight is just a symptom of that underlying cause. Surgery treats the weight/symptom without any regard to the cause. Surgery to correct Type 2 diabetes, generally a lifestyle disease, is going to do the exact same thing. Obesity and Type 2 diabetes are generally acquired conditions, so the "cure" has to be ongoing lifestyle change. It's hard to make lasting change, though, when you're first step is such a drastic, one-time measure.
All this is my very long-winded way of saying that the gastric bypass study was funded by the company that makes the bands that are used in the surgery (yeah, it's true, look it up), and that until they publish some long term results that don't show a significant number of the subjects showing renewed symptoms of Type 2 diabetes over the next several years, this data is bunk and may be doing more harm than good.
But thanks for piping up, we always encourage participation here at Lizzie's Blog!
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Monday, January 21, 2008
Open Letter to My Insulin Pump
So, uh, I wear an insulin pump. It keeps me alive and looks like this:
It's connected to me all the time via some very cool tubing and a little IV-like guy that I replace every few days.
I've been wearing it for about two months now, and I felt like reflecting on the experience. So, here you go, an open letter to my 24-hour companion.
Dear Batman,
We've had 11 wonderful weeks together. True, these last two months haven't all been smooth sailing, but I think you'll agree with me that the growing pains are nearing their end.
Some may say we were foolish kids to get so close so quickly. I mean, come on, we were living together after that first fateful date at the pump trainer's! I don't care how you slice it, that's a pretty quick transition. One minute you were theoretical, the next, we were joined at the abdomen. No pre-nup, no discussion of kids or values or walks on the beach. Just immediate, assumed compatibility.
And it's been great, really, it has. We've had some fun and some laughs. You've met my friends and my family. We got through the holidays with flying colors, right?
But, I'm not gonna lie - I've got some beefs. There's some stuff I'd like to discuss. Now, I say all of this out of love, and because I think we could have a real future together. But if we're gonna last, we need to have an open an honest relationship - the good, the bad, and the ugly, ok? Here goes:
1. Some times you're not very predictable - Mornings seem to be kind of a crap shoot lately. 65, 157, who knows what's gonna show up on the meter? I get it, we're still feeling each other out, and obviously my own choices play a role in the matter, but is it too much to ask that you start to follow SOME kind of pattern??
2. Don't take this the wrong way, but you're kind of ... big. Usually it's not a problem, you fit in my bra and we get along fine, safe in our own secret world. But other times, like this morning, your size makes it impossible to get dressed. You stick out of my pockets, you make my waistbands tighter when clipped in there. You're just big. I know you've come a long way since your backpack days, and I don't want to give you a complex or anything, but it is kind of a drag ALWAYS having to figure out where to stick you.
3. Speaking of size - STOP MAKING ME GAIN WEIGHT! Enough already. I'm not arguing on this one.
4. Your family drives me slightly batty. Animas has been great, really, but your software is a joke! I haven't seen a graphics interface that lame since the original Flight Simulator. You don't seem to get along well with the USB linky thing either. I like YOU, though, so I'm willing to hope the family comes around in time.
So there it is. I think we can work on these issues. They are as much my fault as they are yours. But, I promise to stick with it if you do, kid!
Love,
Lizzie
It's connected to me all the time via some very cool tubing and a little IV-like guy that I replace every few days.
I've been wearing it for about two months now, and I felt like reflecting on the experience. So, here you go, an open letter to my 24-hour companion.
Dear Batman,
We've had 11 wonderful weeks together. True, these last two months haven't all been smooth sailing, but I think you'll agree with me that the growing pains are nearing their end.
Some may say we were foolish kids to get so close so quickly. I mean, come on, we were living together after that first fateful date at the pump trainer's! I don't care how you slice it, that's a pretty quick transition. One minute you were theoretical, the next, we were joined at the abdomen. No pre-nup, no discussion of kids or values or walks on the beach. Just immediate, assumed compatibility.
And it's been great, really, it has. We've had some fun and some laughs. You've met my friends and my family. We got through the holidays with flying colors, right?
But, I'm not gonna lie - I've got some beefs. There's some stuff I'd like to discuss. Now, I say all of this out of love, and because I think we could have a real future together. But if we're gonna last, we need to have an open an honest relationship - the good, the bad, and the ugly, ok? Here goes:
1. Some times you're not very predictable - Mornings seem to be kind of a crap shoot lately. 65, 157, who knows what's gonna show up on the meter? I get it, we're still feeling each other out, and obviously my own choices play a role in the matter, but is it too much to ask that you start to follow SOME kind of pattern??
2. Don't take this the wrong way, but you're kind of ... big. Usually it's not a problem, you fit in my bra and we get along fine, safe in our own secret world. But other times, like this morning, your size makes it impossible to get dressed. You stick out of my pockets, you make my waistbands tighter when clipped in there. You're just big. I know you've come a long way since your backpack days, and I don't want to give you a complex or anything, but it is kind of a drag ALWAYS having to figure out where to stick you.
3. Speaking of size - STOP MAKING ME GAIN WEIGHT! Enough already. I'm not arguing on this one.
4. Your family drives me slightly batty. Animas has been great, really, but your software is a joke! I haven't seen a graphics interface that lame since the original Flight Simulator. You don't seem to get along well with the USB linky thing either. I like YOU, though, so I'm willing to hope the family comes around in time.
So there it is. I think we can work on these issues. They are as much my fault as they are yours. But, I promise to stick with it if you do, kid!
Love,
Lizzie
Monday, January 07, 2008
A question and a chunk
I was successfully declared an excellent candidate for LASIK eye surgery today. Now all I need to do is agree to let someone I don't know SHOOT LASERS AT MY EYES!!! But first, I'm get to pay him a tremendous amount of money. So, I ask the Internet community, should I sign my thick corneas up for some LASIK action?
Now, let's get back to 2007 and the stuff I didn't know:
24. How thick my corneas are.
25. How long Anna Karenina is.
26. That it can be 70 degrees on Thanksgiving.
27. I may actually prefer an alternative Thanksgiving menu of salmon and eggplant parmagiana.
28. I make a wicked vegetable soup from scratch.
29. Funny people aren't funny without writers.
30. I'd start to feel moderately competent at my job.
31. My job will always feel incredibly difficult.
32. I LOVE SCOTT BAIO.
33. Scott Baio was a real cad for a while there.
34. Eat, Pray, Love would rock my socks in a low key introspective way.
35. That I'm really good at backbends in yoga.
36. The return of Aaron Sorkin with Charlie Wilson's War is good, but doesn't make up for the post-Sorkin West Wing funk.
37. The name Judd Aptow.
38. I'm not ready for Thai massage. I don't think I'll ever be ready for Thai massage.
39. To be properly feng shui'd, the bed cannot face towards the door.
40. I would inherit a beta fish named Fishy.
41. One morning, we would find Fishy swimming around with what looked like a popped gill.
42. Fishy popped his gill because he was constipated.
43. Fish get constipated.
44. Even if they bloom early, the cherry blossoms really are worth all the fuss.
45. I'd become an eeensy bit obsessed with a Broadway show called Spring Awakening.
46. Chicken Lizzie is a name that sticks.
47. Flying around in a 15 seater plane isn't that scary.
48. Having the window in front of you pop open is a little scary.
49. I'm getting really good at cooking tofu.
50. After starting Atonement in February, I'd finally get past page 30 on December 19th and be finished with it by December 22nd.
Some more to come. Please feel free to suggest categories, if you like.
Now, let's get back to 2007 and the stuff I didn't know:
24. How thick my corneas are.
25. How long Anna Karenina is.
26. That it can be 70 degrees on Thanksgiving.
27. I may actually prefer an alternative Thanksgiving menu of salmon and eggplant parmagiana.
28. I make a wicked vegetable soup from scratch.
29. Funny people aren't funny without writers.
30. I'd start to feel moderately competent at my job.
31. My job will always feel incredibly difficult.
32. I LOVE SCOTT BAIO.
33. Scott Baio was a real cad for a while there.
34. Eat, Pray, Love would rock my socks in a low key introspective way.
35. That I'm really good at backbends in yoga.
36. The return of Aaron Sorkin with Charlie Wilson's War is good, but doesn't make up for the post-Sorkin West Wing funk.
37. The name Judd Aptow.
38. I'm not ready for Thai massage. I don't think I'll ever be ready for Thai massage.
39. To be properly feng shui'd, the bed cannot face towards the door.
40. I would inherit a beta fish named Fishy.
41. One morning, we would find Fishy swimming around with what looked like a popped gill.
42. Fishy popped his gill because he was constipated.
43. Fish get constipated.
44. Even if they bloom early, the cherry blossoms really are worth all the fuss.
45. I'd become an eeensy bit obsessed with a Broadway show called Spring Awakening.
46. Chicken Lizzie is a name that sticks.
47. Flying around in a 15 seater plane isn't that scary.
48. Having the window in front of you pop open is a little scary.
49. I'm getting really good at cooking tofu.
50. After starting Atonement in February, I'd finally get past page 30 on December 19th and be finished with it by December 22nd.
Some more to come. Please feel free to suggest categories, if you like.
Thursday, January 03, 2008
100 Things that I know now...
The BBC put together their annual list of 100 Things We Didn't Know Last Year here.
I fully intend on creating my own list of 100 Things Lizzie Didn't Know Last Year, but that's a lot of things, you know, at once. So how about we break this sucker down into some more manageable chunks. 2008 is the year of more manageable expectations, after all.
Chunk #1 - No particular theme, no rhyme or reason
1. Barack Obama would win the Iowa democratic caucas.
2. The name Benazir Bhutto.
3. Grey's Anatomy would totally jump the shark.
4. What the sun in Thailand felt like.
5. What the sun in Honduras felt like.
6. What a mosquito bite in Honduras feels like.
7. You can't find cuter kids than the Miskito kids in Rio Platano. Really, it's impossible.
8. Jumping from one shot a day to six shots a day doesn't take all that long to get used to.
9. Wearing an insulin pump doesn't take all that long to get used to.
10. Getting used to something DOES NOT imply acceptance.
11. I looked really cute with short hair.
12. Street squid in Bangkok is pretty damn tasty.
13. Pad thai really is only the tip of the Thai food iceberg.
14. I firmly support the work of unions.
15. Edmunds.com is a girl's best friend.
16. I understand horsepower.
17. The difference between a 4 cylinder, 6 cylinder, and 8 cylinder engine.
18. To laugh, even inside, at people who refer to a "V-4" engine.
19. I like to wear slippers.
20. I can go 6 months without owning a car.
21. It really bugged me to not have a car at my disposal all the time.
22. The phrase is actually "all intents and purposes" NOT "all intensive purposes." Really, I swear.
23. How to do links on blogger.com.
Ok, that's all for now. Stay tuned for the rest of list later to come.
I fully intend on creating my own list of 100 Things Lizzie Didn't Know Last Year, but that's a lot of things, you know, at once. So how about we break this sucker down into some more manageable chunks. 2008 is the year of more manageable expectations, after all.
Chunk #1 - No particular theme, no rhyme or reason
1. Barack Obama would win the Iowa democratic caucas.
2. The name Benazir Bhutto.
3. Grey's Anatomy would totally jump the shark.
4. What the sun in Thailand felt like.
5. What the sun in Honduras felt like.
6. What a mosquito bite in Honduras feels like.
7. You can't find cuter kids than the Miskito kids in Rio Platano. Really, it's impossible.
8. Jumping from one shot a day to six shots a day doesn't take all that long to get used to.
9. Wearing an insulin pump doesn't take all that long to get used to.
10. Getting used to something DOES NOT imply acceptance.
11. I looked really cute with short hair.
12. Street squid in Bangkok is pretty damn tasty.
13. Pad thai really is only the tip of the Thai food iceberg.
14. I firmly support the work of unions.
15. Edmunds.com is a girl's best friend.
16. I understand horsepower.
17. The difference between a 4 cylinder, 6 cylinder, and 8 cylinder engine.
18. To laugh, even inside, at people who refer to a "V-4" engine.
19. I like to wear slippers.
20. I can go 6 months without owning a car.
21. It really bugged me to not have a car at my disposal all the time.
22. The phrase is actually "all intents and purposes" NOT "all intensive purposes." Really, I swear.
23. How to do links on blogger.com.
Ok, that's all for now. Stay tuned for the rest of list later to come.
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