Logsheets (part 4)
I talked to my CDE about my logging. Or rather my lack of logging.We agreed on me using a different, much simpler, logsheet. The idea is to spot the trends in my values instead of tracking all the things that happens. I will therefore only log my BG values, and for now drop writing up food, exercise and other values.
Oh, and I should alsoo let you know that my CDE is Gary Scheiner. He is a T1 diabetic himself, and his remote services at integrated diabetes is something I strongly recommend if you are looking for expert advice!
7 Comments:
Hey Skytor!
Very interesting approach, and one that I think we don't give much credit too - though I think it can work wonders.
Simplify.
That's a powerful concept in our lives that are filled with complicated calculations and tons of little tiny tasks and jobs.
It's an approach that would probably do good for me too at some point. I remember at one time I was testing what felt like hundreds of times through the day - and recording everything too.
I brought the logs into the clinic, and there was TOO MUCH data for them to decipher. We decided to simplify things. It worked for a while, then my old habits started creeping back in. Something I should get back into again I suppose.
I think it will work well for you.
Gary is really, really good. I've read his book "Think Like A Pancreas" and got a lot out of it. I've spoken to him on the phone, and he is a really great guy. I will, I think, use him for some number crunching and analysis at some point, but not right now. For me, right now, the struggles are with the food. So, I want to get a handle on that before I fine tune with Gary.
Keep us posted!
Yeah, I'll let you know how it goes. I also wrote everything on my logsheets, and it is what has tired me since everything resides in so many places, that do not communicate with each other. My meter, my pump, my head, my PC.
Since my life is not "regular" these days (will it ever be?), there has been some challenges finding trends. Hopefully this new logsheet will work. At least now the numbers all reside in one place: my ultra"smart" meter. It makes it easy to once a week spend 1/2 hour to fill it out and find trends.
It's cool that you also know Gary! The world is small. I also read "Think like a pancreas." The guy is a good writer. He made me laugh and get new insights at the same time. A rare quality. : Integrated diabetes also has an dietist - Judy is her name, and I talked to her once over the phone. Nice lady.
Woohoo!!
Go Gary!!!
Go New Baby!!!
::waves pom poms::
Ok... I'm done. :-)
Hmm..I track everything. Exercise, carbs, insulin, and bgs. I used to do it on a 24 hour sheet with spots for everything, and shaded in exercise. Now my Cozmo and Copilot software do it all.
I am reading Gary's book right now. I thought it was interesting that his approach is so simple, when one of the chapters in his book said you should track everything.
I don't see how I could spot trends if I didn't know if the 10am high was caused by bagels for breakfast, a morning jog, wrong basals, or dawn phenomenon. I don't see how you could catch that type of thing without logging everything.
Hi Skytor,
Congratulations on the new family member! I live in Brussels, Belgium - so how come Garry Scheiner is your advisor? He is situated in the US. Please explain. Do you talk over the phone and send logs via email? Do you have another diabetic doctor in Paris? I have read is book, "Think Like a Pancreas" too! Yes, I really liked it. Another good book out there is John Walsh's "Pumping Insulin", but you are probably so busy .....
I have only had a pump since September 2004.I love it because I feel REALLY MUCH BETTER, but life is not easier. Europe seem to be a bit behind in pumps and stuff like that, so I am interested in maybe contacting Gary Scheiner. I have troubles with hypos after ketones. Also I am really messed up by proteins and fats. Everybody talks carbs. They are simple compared to proteins and fats. Also GI value of a carb is very important for me. Usually my stomach works slowly!
I log everything. I do not see how you can figure out what caused something if you skip exercuse, food and insulin info. But hey, if this helps you, then go for it. Each diabetic has to find what works for that person.
I thought "pain de chocolat" were Belgian, nor French? You spoke of them in an earlier post. Don't tell me you can count the carbs in them and just bolus. Don't you use a combination or extended bolus?They have so much in them that would make my bg shoot up hours later..... I am just too chicken to even try.
It is nice corresponding to someone
who lives in Europe. It is fun being international, isn't it?!!!
Megan,
his book made me laugh and triggered me to do some changes, including contacting him.
I also usually track everything. The two reasons I - and Gary - now feel comfortable tracking less are that
1) my basal rates are more or less nailed down (sometimes less - specially when exercising).
2) I stopped logging because of too much scattered data / time involved.
3) we had a hard time finding trends anyhow. Too many variables.
I am interested in learning more about your Cozmo + Copilot software. It sounds great to have one or two places for all the data. I have 5: Papersheets, Ultrasmart, Medtronic 512, my brain, and my carb booklet.
Oh, and I added a comments column to the simple logsheet in order to add in info that affected the values. I'll try it for a while and see how it works.
The Cozmo used Cozmanager software. This can be used to change the settings and upload data off pump.
The Copilot got recalled last summer, but one of the diabetes sites I belong to still has the download availible. The next version of the copilot is suppose to come out this summer.
It is very similar to the OneTouch software, except that is can get all the data from the Cozmo.
I like- a lot.
Post a Comment
<< Home