Saturday was the night of our annual Christmas party with a group of close friends. I knew there would be lots of food - Barb was hosting this year and she always goes all out. I also knew there would be lots of yummy drink options, with alcohol. I knew this party might make it tough to keep my blood sugar under control.
Saturday afternoon my CGM sensor conked out. I had hoped to make it last until Sunday, but it didn’t work out that way. I decided to go to the party without it. I’d be flying blind, but part of me just wanted to relax and have fun without hearing my high alarm passing judgment on what I was consuming. I just wanted to enjoy the company of my friends. I just wanted to eat, drink and be merry!
When I left the house, my blood sugar was in the 80s. I bolused for everything I ate and drank. I cranked up a higher temp basal to cover the merriment. I made sure I didn’t pile my plate too high - even though the home-made potato skins sure were tempting. We talked, we laughed, we played some Christmas party games that were hysterical (like the Reindeer Antler Game). I didn’t worry about my blood sugar once. And when I came home and tested, I was in the high 70s. It was almost a Christmas miracle!!
I have no idea what my blood sugar did during the party. It might very well have spiked into the high 200s and then came back down by the time I got home. With diabetes, what you don’t know CAN hurt you and I’d never advise someone to go out and ignore their blood sugar. But I did, just this once. And it was okay. And when you are feeling completely worn out by diabetes, sometimes one night off is just what you need. I sure did!
A wonderful Christmas miracle! I had one on Thanksgiving. I had my CGM, but I never spiked above 170 -- a definite first. Aren't diabetes triumphs great?
ReplyDeleteI just started on an insulin pump and really pushed to get started by Christmas so that it would be easier to enjoy all of the holiday celebrations (including food and drink!)and not have to inject myself so frequently.
ReplyDeleteYay for you! I agree that ignoring diabetes on a regular basis is insane, but the occasional "vacation" can do wonders. It sounds like you did everything you could to ensure you were doing the right thing, and enjoyed yourself! Congrats.
ReplyDeleteYay! Glad you got to enjoy the party without D intruding.
ReplyDeleteI'm impressed - a envious!
ReplyDeleteawwwwwww im so happy for you
ReplyDeleteGood for you -- with normal levels in the 70s and 80s, I personally don't think that a single spike would have hurt you anyway. I'm wicked glad that you had fun!!
ReplyDeletenice! i did a similar thing over the weekend. enjoyed the treats and had fun with friends, and left diabetes on the back burner. it's nice to do that every once in a while. :)
ReplyDeleteA night off is sometimes just what the doctor ordered. I'm so glad you were rewarded with that Christmas miracle BG!
ReplyDeleteWell done! Chistmas and parties are the occasions I have my biggest struggles with. I'm glad when I'm below 200 at the end of the night! How much&long do you increase your basal rate? Cause my carb counting definitely doesn't do the trick.
ReplyDeleteWow! That's incredible. Definitely jealous of that. If I ate/drank without my insulin I would probably spike near the 300s.
ReplyDeleteOh no, I definitely took my insulin. I bolused for everything I ate and I also upped my basal rate a bit during the party. What I didn't do was wear my continuous glucose monitor - I took a little break from all of the alerts and alarms telling me that my blood sugar was high. Sorry for the confusion - I would NEVER go to a party and eat and drink without taking insulin to cover it.
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