{"id":48898,"date":"2018-04-12T14:10:50","date_gmt":"2018-04-12T18:10:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/asweetlife.org\/?p=48898"},"modified":"2018-04-12T14:10:50","modified_gmt":"2018-04-12T18:10:50","slug":"friday-the-13th-and-diabetes-superstitions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/asweetlife.org\/?p=48898","title":{"rendered":"Friday the 13th and Diabetes Superstitions"},"content":{"rendered":"

Scene:\u00a0 A woman opens her eyes slowly, nudged from sleep by the sound of something screaming in the night.\u00a0 \u201cWhat\u2019s that noise?\u201d she says, peering into the darkness.\u00a0 And then, out of nowhere, comes the wail of the Dexcom\u2019s BEEP BEEP BEEEEEEEEP! And there\u2019s nothing in the house to treat that low except for cucumber slices.<\/p>\n

NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u2026 I\u2019ll admit that my versions of horror movies are a little more diabetes than haunted house, but with tomorrow being Friday the 13th<\/sup>, it\u2019s a perfect time to look at some superstitions through a diabetes lens.\u00a0 There are plenty of superstitions that I subscribe to, and despite how ridiculous they are, they remain part of my mental repertoire.\u00a0 But on the diabetes front, I try to keep my good luck\/bad luck ideology out of rotation.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In keeping with that theme, here\u2019s a look at some common superstitions, debunked with a diabetes twist.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Breaking a mirror:<\/strong>\u00a0 Outside of the diabetes circle, this could be viewed as bad luck, but within our bubble of diabetes, breaking that mirror just means you have another little something with which to prick your finger.\u00a0 And hey, that means you can bring your data up to date by doing a blood sugar check.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Walking under a ladder:<\/strong>\u00a0 Some view this as a hazard for superstitious reasons, but those of us who sport insulin pumps know that ladders aren\u2019t a big deal \u2026 unless your tubing is hanging out, in which case, don\u2019t get (w)rung out by snagging your tubes on the ladder.\u00a0 Keep that tubing tucked<\/a>!<\/p>\n

A black cat crosses your path:\u00a0<\/strong>No problem; just check his fur for a rogue test strip.\u00a0 Otherwise, the cat is fine and might even help you avoid some trouble if it alerts you to a low or high blood sugar (like with my old cat, who put the \u201cC\u201d into CGM<\/a>).\u00a0 Meow is the time to let cats cross your path, as a snuggle or two might help reduce your stress levels.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Opening an umbrella indoors:<\/strong>\u00a0 This is just a weird thing to do, in my opinion, but there\u2019s a diabetes angle, too.\u00a0 What if you are trying to get out to the car with all the stuff you need and you don\u2019t have a bag big enough to do the job?\u00a0 Open that umbrella, flip it upside down, and use the fabric nest to hold your goods.\u00a0 You can fit a jar of glucose tabs, your meter, a spare pump site, and all the other emergency prep list items, no problem.\u00a0 (And yes, this is a stretch.\u00a0 Work with me here.)<\/p>\n

Find a penny, pick it up:<\/strong>\u00a0This is a positive superstition, but here\u2019s a little warning on the diabetes front:\u00a0 if you\u2019re scooping up loose change off the sidewalk, wash your hands.\u00a0 Because you never know if that penny was once immersed in a jar of honey, or covered in Pixie Stix dust, which can get itself all over your fingers, which can cause inaccuracy in your blood sugar readings.\u00a0(I can spin diabetes into ANY superstition.\u00a0 Try me!)<\/p>\n

The Number 13:<\/strong>\u00a0Okay, this one can be a little scary.\u00a0 Like if your blood sugar is 13 mg\/dL.\u00a0 (Mainline some orange juice!)\u00a0 Or if your A1C comes back at 13%.\u00a0 But on the whole, 13 is nothing to be afraid of.\u00a0 Take control of your Friday the 13th<\/sup>by making that overdue eye dilation appointment.\u00a0 Or simply changing your lancet.\u00a0 Which brings me to \u2026<\/p>\n

Changing your lancet:<\/strong>\u00a0 Don\u2019t even try to tell me that you have a lucky lancet that gives you good blood glucose results.\u00a0 Have you seen what happens to a lancet every time you use it<\/a>? \u00a0GROSS.\u00a0 That\u00a0<\/strong>is truly something to be scared of, so go change your pen needle tips and your lancets this Friday the 13th<\/sup>.\u00a0 Make that the new superstition tradition.\u00a0<\/p>\n

So whether you\u2019re dodging bird droppings (hey, that\u2019s good luck!) or bobbing and weaving between black cats and upright ladders, scrap those superstitions and instead embrace a little diabetes good luck.\u00a0 Because there\u2019s plenty to be positive about<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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