August 3, 2007

Get Zen with YDMV

I read a comment from a recently diagnosed family that was concerned about the fluctuation in BG numbers. We have all been there.

To this let me say, and I mean this most sincerely, get Zen with YDMV

YDMV = Your Diabetes May Vary.

BG is one, of many, things in your diabetes life that is going to bounce around. Sometimes you will understand why, sometimes you won’t. If you can get used to that you will be fine. (and if you can get used to that you are way better than me ‘cause two kids and five years and I still struggle with the idea.)

YDMV is built into our care programs but we don’t always see it. I bet that in classes the terrible week of diagnosis you, like I, were told something like the goal is for BG to be in range 80% of the time. Than means everyone knows up front the plan up recognizes you will be out 20% of the time and doing great. That's a goal that would be tough at the outset to make.

OK if you’re a re like me what you probably heard was people who love there kids less than I love my kid are out of range 1 out of 5 tests but I’m super dad and I can do better!

OK Raise you hand if that was you too.

So here is my two cents. Try to relax; kids can smell The Fear* on you better than a dog. As the great philosopher Baloo the Bear says is the Jungle Book:

If you act like that bee acts, uh uh
You're working too hard

And don't spend your time lookin' around
For something you want that can't be found
When you find out you can live without it
And go along not thinkin' about it
I'll tell you something true

The bare necessities of life will come to you


No I am not saying don’t test BG. I am saying, if you can chill on the numbers, they chill too and that makes what ever the number is a better number.

The number isn't a measure of your love or devotion or care or effort or even parental skill. You want a number for that? Track how much time you spend reading a book out loud, playing games, watching Baloo and his pals on DVD and exploring the random ideas they have about life.

BG is just a number. Like the interstate or other highway number all it tells you is the course are on right then and there.

Should you be on I95 north or I295 south? That depends on where you're going and where your coming from. Sometimes you want I95, in fact most of the time you are driving to Florida from Philly it is a good number. Sometime you want to get around local congestion and you take 295.

Sometime 95 is the perfect BG but after a meal or in our case heading into sports a bigger number is much better. All depends on where you are going and where you have been but more importantly, where did I put the Jungle Book DVD?

* for more on The Fear see: Hunter S Thompson, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

4 comments :

  1. Bennet, I love the blog. I;ve seen you out and about in other forums lately. You seem kind of burnt out. Are you guys ok? Or is it just one of those days, weeks, or months that the D funk seems to take over?

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  2. No funk, things are good. Thanks for thinking of us.

    We are rebuilding the kitchen form the studs out and I am the labor force. (We are building a in BIG diabetes drawer LOL) So I don't have a lot of online time.

    I have been poking around some sites that are new to me just to broaden horizons. I try to get outside my boxes sometimes.

    This blog is taking up most of my hoby time online.

    Keep coming back!

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  3. I hope that the diabetes drawer turns out to be awesome!!! Homes should come with those, lol.

    Glad things are good!!!
    Take care, Jamie

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  4. Yeah or homes shouldn't come with diabetics. That would be better, all wen need is a cure....

    ReplyDelete