“Where is my pancreas!” is something that I say often. Believe me, it is not something I ever expected I would be saying.

Since October of last year, I have been wearing an insulin pump (Omnipod), and a CGM (continuous glucose monitor – Dexcom). If I have to do this diabetes thing, I’m going to try and keep things under the best control possible.

Both devices are blue tooth, and both have PDM’s (personal diabetes managers) that they transmit to. Both PDM’s are housed in a small bag that I call my pancreas. Frankly, that’s how this little bag is functioning.

When I want to know what my current blood sugar is, I glance at the Dexcom PDM, or at my iPhone or Apple Watch, to get the most recent reading. When I eat, I have to put my blood sugar and carbs in the Omnipod PDM so it will figure out how much insulin to give me, and dose accordingly.

You lucky souls who have a pancreas that is inside your body that does this for you – say your thanks.

My pancreas also holds insulin, an extra pod, syringes (lest the pods should fail), alcohol wipes, AAA batteries, test strips, and my lancet, the better to poke my fingers with. It was a lot easier when my pancreas worked.

Around six years ago, my pancreas started to poop out. Mistakenly told by my doctor that it was type 2 diabetes, I lost 30 pounds, and began to EXERCISE. Yes, the former hater of all things active began to run.

My pancreas was grateful, and continued to chug along for five more years.

Alas, last year I had to start insulin. So I started to investigate, and discovered even old gals like me could get type 1 diabetes. So I asked to be referred to an endocrinologist. August 16, 2017, I was told what I already knew – I had type 1 diabetes, not type 2.

MDI (multiple dose injections) of insulin got old quickly, as did the accompanying poking of my fingertips. So I turned to technology. Thus the paisley pancreas was born!! (www.sugarmedical.com)

I LITERALLY do not go anywhere without it. I’m getting better at remembering it – after turning my car around and heading home on more than one occasion. Because it’s Bluetooth, it has to be in the vicinity of my person, and connected devices.

I also carry glucose tabs (yucky!!) and small pouches of candy (yummy!) everywhere. I love going to events and having my bag searched – try to take my candy, lady!! Ah, it’s the little things now.

In closing, I really would love to see a cure for diabetes. I cannot imagine being a child with this mess of a disease, or the parent of a child. It’s a LOT to deal with. I thank God every day for insulin.

It literally keeps me alive.