What getting high means to me

I am reposting this from Wendy at Candy Hearts. It is a real, serious problem for all Type 1 diabetics. Luckily, I have insulin to help keep this from happening, but so many people out there do not. Children and adults DIE every day because they do not have access to life saving insulin. We can help.

In The Nick of Time.

Fatigue
Dry mouth.
Frequent urination.
Thirsty.
Itchy spots.
Abdominal pain.
Vomiting.
Headache.
Blurred vision.
Increased respiration rate.
Weakness.
Worsening abdominal pain.
More urination.
More vomiting.
More pain.
Terribly thirsty.
Tired.
Worsening weakness.
More vomiting.
Unable to move.
Faster respiratory rate.
Excruciating abdominal pain.
Can't focus.
Abdominal distention.
Gasping for air.
Worse headache.
Hurts to breath.
Worsening thirst.
Generalized swelling.
More swelling.
Eye swell closed.
Can't see.
Shallow, labored respiration. <~~~This is where I was diagnosed.
Still thirsty.
Urinary incontinence.
Pain.
Can't think.
Pain.
Thirst.
Air.
Weak.
Pain.
Head too heavy to lift.
Awake.
Confused.
Asleep.
Awake.
Asleep. <~~~ This is where I was only TWO HOURS later when they finally got an IV in me to give me insulin. My veins were almost non-existent, due to extreme dehydration that comes with DKA.
Coma.
Seizure.
Death.

Diabetic Ketone Acidosis (DKA). Inevitably this is what will happen if your body doesn't produce insulin and you are unable to access medical intervention in time. It can happen very slowly or things can go downhill very quickly. Suffering is always part of process, and the end result is NEVER survival.

....
Somewhere today a child will succumb to Type 1 Diabetes because their family cannot access the insulin he or she needs to survive.

Please pray for this child's comfort....the broken hearted family....the turmoil that will be left behind. Pray for the situation. Pray that someone, somewhere, somehow can get insulin to these innocent children in time. Pray that they'll be able to continue accessing it in order to keep their child alive.

Say BIG PRAYERS. It's a BIG PROBLEM.

And then, please pray for Candy Hearts and the journey that begins unfolding on

2/14/11.

Write to encourage a friend to inspire her beauty.

Dear Megan,

You, my dear, are one of the beautifulest people I know, inside and out. Your modesty keeps you from realizing it the majority of time, but, believe me, it is there. If you could only see yourself as others see you, Meg, you would understand why you are such a valued friend. Your kindness for others always shines through, even on your tiredest of days. Your knowledge for EVERYTHING is admirable to say the least. You are a very passionate woman, full of a variety of loves, such as your love of books, the French Language, God, music, etc. Your outer beauty shines immensely as well, yet I know you rarely see it. I see it. I know how beautiful you are and I'm not the only one. Hopefully, someday, you will see it too.

I love you, even with all of these miles separating us.

Style 31. Post an outfit pic!

This was one of our engagement pictures from, what?, July 2009. Sorry. I don't have any current pictures of me. :(

Write about something you would like to change about yourself for the better.

As I've said before with this challenge (and I'm sure I'll say again), patience. I need to learn to be more patient. I need to learn to let go of my need to control and learn to be patient. If things aren't perfect, so what! They are what they are. If things are meant to happen. they will. Just not necessarily in my time frame. I need to let go of control and gain more patience.

Write about what wears you out as a woman.

Hormones. Emotions. Society's expectations. Self expectations.

That's what wears me down as a woman. Yup.

Post a recipe. Or if you don't cook, try a new recipe and write about how it turned out (pictures please!).

Baked Oatmeal

3 cups quick cooking oats
¾ cup sugar
1 cup milk
⅓ cup melted butter
2 eggs
2 tsp baking powder
¾ tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350° F. Combine all ingredients in mixing bowl and mix well. Spread batter into a greased 9 x 13 pan [I used an 8x8 pan instead, hoping for gooier oatmeal, but I think I baked it too long. It was good, but it wasn't gooey. Just moist] and bake for 25-30 minutes until golden brown.

Variations: Add 1 cup of chopped apples or other fruits or nuts. This is really good with a little milk poured over the top. You can also add additional toppings after baking as well.

I prepared this the night before we had to get up early for an all day thing we were doing. I prepared it and put it in the refrigerator over night, covered. I baked it in the morning and it was still fabulous. I have a picture, but it's stuck on the iPhone until I find the cord.