Oi.

Tonight has been, in a word, scary.

I got home, determined to get the Symlin going.

A normal day for me has me giving about 20 units of basal insulin and another 10-15 of bolus insulin, depending upon my eating, stress levels, etc. The doc's recommendation was to cut my bolus doses back by 50%...

Sooo....

I got home from work, read for awhile, fed the cat, and pretty much did a million other things to put off the start.

Finally, around 7:30, I cooked a turkey burger with cheese, a whole wheat bun and some broccoli and peppers on the side, plus 4 ounces of grape juice for a total of 44 grams of carb - more than I normally eat for dinner. I wanted to have enough padding, in case -- you know?

My normal dose for 44 grams would be 2.80, tonight I gave 1.4 - and then I gave 5 units of Symlin.

You know when you sit just waiting for medication sometimes? That's what I did. Sitting on the bed, a copy of the Calorie King and the Bitch Posse beside me, The Office on television. Weird, though, I was waiting for the nausea - which, by the way, didn't come. What did arrive was a creeping, crawling, speeding freight train of a low bloodsugar. Before I knew it, I was fumbling my way through a test - and discovering a level of 24 mg/dl... YIKES...

Here's what happened next....

Stumble to the phone...

104503541326812 - first try...

1401894131464 - second try...

14018612233 - finally....

And the message "You've reached Dr. X's office, if this is a medical emergency press 6"

After a couple of false starts leaving a message, I press "6" and say "This is Nicole Purcell and my bloodsugar is 24..." And then I accidentally hang up, again...

I redial...

I press "6" and say "I'm sorry I forgot to leave my number here it is..."

I must tell you, I have an excellent doctor. By the time he called back, I had consumed 20 ounces of juice and my sugar had climbed to 58. I was more coherent, of course.

"Nicole?"

"Hi. Dr. H, I guess we might have miscalculated."

"Well, we cut you by 50% just to get you started. Tell me about tonight."

I recite "I was 101 at dinner. I ate 44 grams and gave 1.4 units."

"OK, so we cut you to 1 to 30 -- looks like we'll have to go to 1 to 40."

"And in the morning, I'm going to start at 1 to 50, OK?"

"Sounds good."

"Alright. Hey, the good news is, I didn't have any nausea tonight."

"That is good news."

"So, I hope I don't have to talk to you again soon."

"Well -- don't worry if you do. Don't hesitate even for a minute."

And that's what gives me piece of mind. Having a team that cares about me - with team members that answer the phone with their kids in the background and with a patience unmatched...