December - 2016

Insulin: "Mission Improbable"

Insulin: "Mission Improbable"

Persons with diabetes who use insulin crave a sense of certainty or predictability when it comes to the action of their shots or boluses and the effects that follow. Unfortunately there are many reasons why an insulin dose can seem fickle in how it affects your blood sugar levels. Injected insulin (whether by syringe or a pump) enters the body through the tissues under the skin surface. While we know this method of delivery ultimately works to lower sugar levels, it's neverth

Profiles in Sugar Surfing - Patti Kasper

Profiles in Sugar Surfing - Patti Kasper

Sugar Surfer Patti Kasper has been a PWD x 51 years. Patti composed the post below to share some highlights of her journey towards Sugar Surfing. (Steve Ponder MD, CDE) I am among a wonderful group of T1D warriors who have survived our daily battle for over 50 years, despite decades in what I call the “medical dark ages.” Home blood testing was not available until just before I went off to college as a teen. Frankly, I find it a miracle I survived the “static thinking” mode

"I'm glad he met you first"

"I'm glad he met you first"

“I’m glad he met you first” This is a small but powerful quote from the last few minutes of the classic movie “ET, The Extraterrestrial”. One of the kinder Scientists, Mr. Keys, asks Elliot what more could be done to help an ailing ET, plus explain the “phone home” device. Keys goes on to acknowledge to Elliot that ET was not left here on purpose, and that Elliot had done the best anybody could do to help him. His closing words to Elliot being “I’m glad he met you first”. If

"There is nothing in the dark that isn't there when the lights are on"

"There is nothing in the dark that isn't there when the lights are on"

Is fear a prerequisite to manage a chronic disease well? Over the years I've read many posts in response to questions I've posed regarding closely held attitudes and beliefs about their or their child's diabetes. One theme overshadows all others. Fear, confusion, anxiety and even guilt often rules following a diabetes diagnosis. For some, this is eventually replaced with acceptance, confidence and a firm resolve to succeed. In most cases, quality education (initial and ongoin

The subtle touch

The subtle touch

Accomplished Sugar Surfers master the art of 'subtle touch'. They know the circumstances behind a low range BG level and can apply just the correct amount of force to 'correct' the situation. In Sugar Surfing™ , this method is called "micro-carbing". It's the twin sibling of "micro-bolusing" with rapid acting insulin. Both methods are core Sugar Surfing skills. It usually requires less time to raise a low blood sugar level compared to lowering an elevated value with insulin.

How long do insulin needles need to be?

How long do insulin needles need to be?

When I starting receiving injected insulin in 1966, this was the syringe I used. I can't show you the thick needles (25 gauge) and measured 5/8 inches long. They were reusable. Unfortunately my parents were not taught to sharpen them. We just used them until they were mostly unbearable to use any more: around 3 weeks. Today's insulin syringe needles are much thinner and considerably shorter. But how short is short enough? Put another way: how long is "long enough"? Read this

The double-tap pivot

The double-tap pivot

True Sugar Surfers understand that they're actually steering a glycemic trend line and not just responding to a single point in time BG value. Rather than watching helplessly as their blood sugar trends chaotically rise and fall, Surfers take charge. The tools of the Sugar Surfer are numerous and well described in the book Sugar Surfing ™ The double tap pivot (i.e., multi-tap pivoting) is a sound method to consider when you are either a) just learning how to pivot, or b) seek

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BG Metric Conversion Tool

This tool converts blood glucose from mg/dL to mmol/L vice versa

A 3 Part Interview With Dr. Ponder

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