Back-up Packrat

I've developed this odd quirk whereby I have back-ups of EVERYTHING: back-up shampoo, back-up conditioner, back-up toothpaste, back-up granola bars, back-up laundry detergent, back-up coats, back-up bags, back-up etc... And I get REALLY anxious if I don't have my back-ups.

It finally dawned on me it stems from a bonafide anxiety around always requiring: back-up food, back-up glucose tabs, back-up insulin, back-up infusion sites, back-up cartridges, back-up needles, back-up medical things etc...

The bad news is I got a lot of clutter. The good news is I'm ready for the zombie apocalypse.

Curiously, most of these symptoms are similar
to those of a low blood glucose... though with respect
to the last point: I'm not so picky about what I
eat when low.

MacGyver Moment: Knit Pump Case

So, my Mum got in a bit of an accident last weekend (she is okay, but a bit banged up and stressed) and I wasn't able to finish all the posts for Diabetes Blog Week. My post for Sunday was for Karen, who started and organizes Diabetes Blog Week. Something I realized about Karen while reading her posts this time around is that she also knits! So, in the spirit of Karen's awesomeness I have amalgamated the interests of both her blogs with a knitted pump cases! 

There are two cases I have made. Both are supposed to be worn around the side of a bra...

Fig. 1: Where you can wear it
(though, really, wear it anywhere you like)

The first is a little more simple...

Simple Knit Pump Case

Yarn: Bernat Satin [100% Acrylic; 100g; 149 m/163 yrds] (I used the colour Buff, but there are a lot of colours to choose from- beige and earth tones to bright and colourful)

Needles: 5mm/US8

Button: 15mm button

Gauge: 18 sts/24 rows = 4X4 inches using size US8 needles

Directions:

Body section:

Cast on 16 stiches.

1st row: knit all stitches.

2nd row: purl all stitches.

Repeat these two rows until the piece measures 6.5 inches and ending on a purl row.

Begin to decrease for the strap:

Row 1: K1, SSK, knit to last three stitches, K2tog, K1

Row 2: Purl all stitches.

Row 3: Knit all stitches.

Repeat these three rows until 5 stitches remain.

Continue in stockinette stitch until the strap measures 6 inches (from the first decrease round.)

K2, YO twice, K2together, knit to end.

Next row, P3, drop the next sticth (one of the YO), P2.

Continue in stockinette for another 1 inch and bind off all stitches.

Finishing:

With the wrong side (purl) facing you fold the body section up 3.25 inches. Join seams on either side to create a pocket.

Weave in all ends.

Sew a 15mm button on in the middle of the upper front of the pocket (opposite side of the strap.)

Fig. 2: Really off-scale schemata...
be thankful I don't give instructions for bridges.

In the Round Knit Pump Case

Yarn: Sirdar Snuggly Baby Bamboo [80% Bamboo sourced viscose, 20% Wool; 50g; 95 m/104 yrds] (I used the colour Nestle, which apparently has been discontinued)

Needles: 4 double pointed size 4mm/US6

Button: 15mm button

Gauge: 22 sts/28 rows = 4X4 inches using size US6 needles

Directions:

Body section:

Cast on 30 stitches, distribute evenly among three needles and join for knitting in the round.

1st round: Place marker to mark beginning of round. K all stitches.

Continue knitting each round until the piece measures 3 inches.

Next round K2tog, K13, SSK, K to end of round.

Next round K all stitches.

Next round K2tog, K11, SSK, K to end of round.

Next round K all stitches.

Next round K2tog, K10, SSK, K to end of round.

Next round K all stitches.

Next round K2tog, K8, SSK, K to end of round.

Rearrange stiches onto two needles, so that there are twelve on one needle and twelve on the other.

Bind off in kitchener stitch. 

Strap:

From the original marker placed to mark the beginning of the work, pick-up and knit 15 stitches.

1st row: K2, P until last two stitches, K2

2nd row:  K2, SSK, K until last four stitches, K2tog, K2 (13 stitches left)

3rd row: K2, P until last two stitches, K2

4th row: K2, SSK, K until last four stitches, K2tog, K2 (11 stitches left)

5th row: K2, P until last two stitches, K2

6th row:  K2, SSK, K until last four stitches, K2tog, K2 (9 stitches left)

7th row: K2, P until last two stitches, K2

8th row:  K2, SSK, K until last four stitches, K2tog, K2 (7 stitches left)

9th row: K2, P until last two stitches, K2

10th row: K all stitches

Making sure to end on an odd row, repeat last two rows until strap measures 6 inches (or desired length) from the pick-up stitches.

Next row: K3, YO twice, K2together, knit to end.

Next row: K2, P, drop the next sticth (one of the YO), P to last 2 stitches, K2.

Next row: K all stitches.

Next row: K2, P to last two stitches, K2.

Repeat last two rows for one more inch.

Bind off all stitches.

Weave in ends and sew on 15mm button on middle of front.

Some notes about the patterns: 

• I have an Animas 2020 pump and, so, all the measurements were derived from this pumps dimensions... but I the material ends up having a fair amount of give and I think the measurements would work well enough for the Metronic pumps as well...
• It may seem weird to have a smaller strap, but it makes it easier to take the pump out of the case without having to undo the button...
• I did this last pattern I did from memory. If any of the decreases are off, please let me know...
• I don't mind (if it ends up working well and you end up liking the pattern) people sharing the pattern, but please give credit and link back here. (Thanks <3)

Awesome Things

Today's post for Diabetes Blog Week is about Awesome Things:

In February the #dsma blog carnival challenged us to write about the most awesome thing we’d done DESPITE diabetes.  Today let’s put a twist on that topic and focus on the good things diabetes has brought us.  What awesome thing have you (or your child) done BECAUSE of diabetes?  After all, like my blog header says, life with diabetes isn’t all bad!

So, last summer I discovered a site for the group called Connected in Motion. They provide different outdoor events for people with type 1 diabetes, in the belief that we all have a lot of valuable lived-knowledge about diabetes that we to share with and learn from one another. I saw that they had a weekend canoe trip planned for the end of August...

FLASH BACK TO SEVERAL YEARS EARLIER: I remember friends had asked me to go camping with them. I remember noting that we would need to brainstorm about food, because at the time I was on shots and very sensitive to insulin... which meant that any exercise (like carrying a bag of groceries!) meant dealing with lows. I remember them saying there wasn't a lot of exercise involved, so I should be fine. "But, isn't there hiking/portaging and canoeing?" I asked. "Yes," they replied, "but it's really not that much exercise." To which my brain thought: These are my friends and I love them, but there is no way in hell I'm going out into the woods with them. So, I had always wondered what I was missing out on in these trips... So, figuring that everyone on the trip would be kind of in the same boat (no pun intended... ha!) I signed up for the canoe/camping trip with Connected in Motion.

Now, here's how I remember the conversation with my parents after I signed up for this trip:

Parents: So, do you know anyone else going on the trip?

Me: No.

Parents: Do you know people that have done the trips before, then?

Me: Nope.

Parents: Well, how did you find out about it?

Me: I found it on the internet.

Parents: (Silence)

Me: It's going to be fiiiiine. I think maybe I do know someone who knows something about them... ?

That trip was the first time ever that I got to hang out with people that had type 1 diabetes. I kind of underestimated how great that would be. I didn't have to explain diabetes or glucometers or lows or highs to anyone. I didn't have to ask people if they minded stopping so I could test my blood; I just said I needed to or did it and people understood. (Which made me realize I should never really ask. I should just tell people it's going to happen, stop and do it.) It also felt pretty great to be able to do something that I felt like I would never get to do. After that trip, if anyone had asked if I wanted to go camping/canoeing I felt like I had the tools and knowledge to be able to do so. 

Anyway, I thought this was a good story for this post because it's not just something I did despite diabetes, but also because of diabetes... And not just my diabetes, but everyone's on the trip: without their support and knowledge I wouldn't have been able to achieve what I had that weekend.

About six months later I went to another event hosted by Connected in Motion. At one point we all gathered and figured out how long each of us had had diabetes... then we added up all those years to see how much live experience was sitting in the room: