Brrrr that was fast....

I have no doubt that Purolator is FAST, in terms of their $hipping. I also have no doubt that Medtronic is fast with their order processing. Combine these two and you result in top notch customer service. I have never been let down by either.

Something changed recently, with the shipping process for the Medtronic glucose sensors. I was not aware .... hence this posting.

I enjoy ordering online, rather then speaking in person to someone in a call centre. No offense to the actual human interactions, but I enjoy the simplicity of the "click and ship" process. No dialing, no voice prompted menus, no waiting!

I booted up the Medtronic website the other night to order my glucose sensors. I have been without sensors for awhile now, but made the realization these little gems are the key to my diabetes control. I dusted off the credit card, and ... click click click, they were on their way.

I went on to the Medtronic website the next day to track my order. Another technological advance we have all grown to love, the ability to track every move our parcels make along the way. "oh look, the truck just hit a bump outside of Montreal. Oh look, the driver has stopped for a pee". Play by play, 24 hours a day.

When I checked the status of the order 24 hours after it was placed, I saw no update. "Ok, no problem, likely a Christmas delay. I am sure Glucose Sensors are a hot item on everyone's Christmas Wish list......what, no?". The next day, I was off to work. I started my work day at noon, and worked through until midnight. I was very tired when I pulled in to the driveway ..... put out the garbage, and then crawled in to bed.

Before closing my eyes, I pulled out the laptop to check the status of my Northern Vagabond. I saw my web browser still open to the Medtronic tracking page, so I clicked refresh to see the play by play updates! I was taken back when I read the following line "Item delivered to residence at 13:25".

"WHAT?". No one was here.....I saw not box on the kitchen table....no sticky on the door....what does this mean?

I jumped out of bed, ran down the stairs an opened the front door.

There is front of me, on the front steps, was a very chilly box from Medtronic. Sitting on the front door step like a dog waiting to come in the house.

I looked at the clock, 02:15. I looked at the thermometer, -10 degrees.

My box of 4 glucose sensors, that cost $220.00, sat on the front steps of my house, for over 13 hours at sub zero temperatures. I had to literally scrape the ice off the box to open and inspect the contents.

I called to Medtronic in the morning, to see why this happened. Typically I have to sign for the parcel, to keep it safe. It seems enough people complained about missing their deliveries that Medtronic took away the need for a signature on arrival. Wow, the internet site did not mention this during the ordering process!

Medtronic states they have tested and can confirm the sensors are good to -20. I am not comfortable that my sensors spent over 13 hours in the subzero temperatures. I asked the rep at Medtronic if I could store them in the freezer from now on (yes, I was a LITTLE sarcastic). I was advised the sensors do not even need to be refrigerated anymore. I had heard this rumor, but I have also heard the fragility of the chemical compounds on the sensor itself. I have heard the sensors are sensitive to "movement", and now I wonder how extreme temperature fluctuations would affect these sensor chemicals.

The sensors are sitting in my closet now, at a toasty 20 degree temperature.

We will see how these sensors will pan out. I will start one up in the morning and get back online. I know for next time to expect Purolator to drop the parcel anywhere and anytime. I do have the ability to request a signature on the parcel when ordering, to avoid this from happening. If I had not checked that webpage in the wee hours, I can guarantee those sensors would still be on my front door step. I only check those steps on Saturday and Sunday.....when the weekend newspapers arrive! By tonight, they would have been under a foot of freshly fallen snow.

Well, truth be told, I am very happy to have my little friends back. Merry Christmas to me!

Still Running.....bundle up!

Winter came to Nova Scotia, for a short period. We had 2+ feet of snow. We shoveled driveways, slid in our cars on the road, waited in line up to get snow tires and sat by roaring wood fires.

Less then a week later, we were back to 10 degree temperatures, wading through the slush and now back to seeing the grass on the lawns and the leaves waiting to be raked. What a climate we have....

This year I am determined to keep running outside during the winter. Typically I transition to the treadmill, and start up again in the spring. Running inside is not even close to "the real thing" for myself.....so I have enlisted the help of my running buddy Wyatt to keep me on the roads. We headed out in -7 degree temperature for a 9km run around the city, and that went well. I slid a few times, but nothing major. Last weekend, I participated in a 10km road race around the city, and that went well.....so far, I should be ok.

I am learning I tend to overdress, as I watch other runners in shorts and t'shirts, while I am wearing lined leggings, two shirts, mittens and a hat....and wondering why I am so HOT at the end of the run! This will come with time and more sub zero experience.

On the good side - the cold temperatures will keep me running, that is for sure. I would not want my pump to freeze, so I keep it close to my skin....so as long as I am warm, it is warm. I stop running and cool down, it could freeze....so keep those feet moving girl! Not a problem today, as we sit at 4.2 degrees and rain. The cold temperatures have gone away for awhile....but I know they will return!

Snow Help Needed...

Anyone willing to get the newspaper for me?

.....never far.......

When you have diabetes, you get used to the "quirks" that are part of your daily life. It is not until someone from the "outside" world looks in, and questions, that you notice things just may not be normal.

Little things I do not notice anymore. The test strips on the floor of the car, in every backpack I own. Stashes of sugar in jacket pockets, parcels of infusion sets and AAA batteries in my house, my car, my workplace, my garage, my friends' houses....where people would have nail-polish and makeup in their bathroom cupboards, I have lancets and alcohol swabs. This is my normal.

I realized the humor when my parents were over the weekend. I was talking to my mother in my bedroom, and she looked under the head of me bed. She was confused, and could not figure out what she was looking at. To me, it was easy.....a jar of jelly beans. She said "why do you have a jar of jelly beans under your bed???". I was amazed at the question. Why does this seem strange? The pure simplicity of treating a low without having to get out of bed! No stumbling down the stairs.....no fumbling for food....and best of all, it keeps me from eating the entire box of cereal at 3am :)

Those jelly beans are rarely visited, and often end up stale and hard as little stones, but they are my normal. It is interesting to see my world through someone elses eyes.....

Scott - the leaves of Nova Scotia.......but not for long!!

Fall Colors

Well fall is going to be over soon. I am seeing the evidence of winter slowly approaching. I had a great fall - travels all over North America, many great hikes and walks on the beach.....drives to see the colors....the only task left is to rake the leaves in the yard! Any takers? I love the yard full of maple trees........the one downfall (no pun intended!)

My mother asked me what I wanted to Christmas. That was the real indication winter was near......she laughed when I told her "Glucose sensors". I am 100% true with that request. Anyone without medical coverage for their sensors would agree that sensors would be the ultimate Christmas gift. It is hard to squeeze them in to the budget, but worth every penny......

Happy world diabetes day tomorrow ..........

Twin Cities Marathon Weekend! Medtronic Global Heros....

What an amazing experience.....what more can I say.

I encourage anyone who thought they would never be able to run long distances, but can now, thanks to any Medtronic development......apply for the Global Heros program.

I can easily say, this weekend was one I will never forget, and I am extremely appreciative for this experience.

24 people from around the world came together this weekend in St. Paul, MN, to run the Twin Cities Marathon. I was one of these 24 people, hailing from Nova Scotia Canada. There were people from Denmark, the UK, Finland, and all over the United States. Each person brought a different story of how Medtronic allowed them to run distances, that they were not able to run prior in their life. Most of us were told we would never be able to run a marathon.....some of the people were wheelchair bound before their Medtronic intervention, some people were in cardiac arrest.....everyone has a unique story.

I was there with my Medtronic Insulin Pump, and my Continuous Glucose Sensing system. It was amazing to hear the stories from the other people....to hear what people had gone through to get to the point they are now. Inspiring...

We were treated with the utmost of respect by Medtronic. It was great to see the scientists behind the scenes in the research facility, the faces and friendly handshakes to go with the names we read about, see an overall picture of the many facets that make up Medtronic, and experience the high level of organization and perfectionism within this company.

Early next year, the applications will open for the 2009 Medtronic Global Heros. If you benefit from a Medtronic device, and you run....please do apply! I hope to have pictures to follow soon.....

....and to top it off, an amazing meeting with Scott! Thanks for meeting me for coffee, was great to meet you face to face! Cheers!