An Omnipod 5 for tubeless, automated insulin delivery.
An Apple Watch. Dexcom G7 connects to the Apple Watch via Bluetooth, allowing users to monitor their blood sugar without their phone. With Dexcom Direct to Apple Watch, you now have the freedom and flexibility to go on a run, leave your phone in the car while running errands, or leave your phone on the charger while you are in another room—all while still getting the most accurate glucose readings in real-time, right on your wrist.
He carries with him at all times:
Insulated cross-body diabetes bag to carry supplies.
An extra Omnipod
An extra Dexcom
Fast-acting carbs: juice, bananas, jelly beans, and Gatorade.
Slow-acting carbs: apples, peaches, oranges, carrots, peanuts, and pistachios.
Glucagon kit: For severe hypoglycemia, administered by nasal spray.
Blood glucose meter: To monitor blood sugar levels
Insulin: Including syringes
Lancets and lancing device: For manual blood sugar testing
Ketone testing strips: To check for ketosis
Alcohol wipes: For cleaning injection sites
Treatment for type 1 diabetes includes:
Taking insulin
Counting carbohydrates, fats, and protein
Monitoring blood sugar often
Eating healthy foods—there's no such thing as a diabetes diet. It’s important to center your diet on nutritious, low-fat, high-fiber foods.,
Exercising regularly and keeping a healthy weight.
The goal is to keep the blood sugar level as close to normal as possible to delay or prevent complications. Generally, the goal is to keep the daytime blood sugar levels before meals between 80 and 130 mg/dL (4.44 to 7.2 mmol/L). After-meal numbers should be no higher than 180 mg/dL (10 mmol/L) two hours after eating.
Activities of concern
Driving. Low blood sugar can occur at any time. It’s a good idea to check your blood sugar anytime you’re getting behind the wheel. If it’s below 70 mg/dL (3.9 mmol/L), have a snack with 15 grams of carbohydrates. Retest again in 15 minutes to make sure it has risen to a safe level before you start driving.
Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
Diabetic hypoglycemia occurs when someone with diabetes doesn’t have enough sugar (glucose) in the blood. Blood sugar levels can drop for many reasons, such as skipping a meal, eating fewer carbohydrates than called for in your meal plan, getting more physical activity than normal, or injecting too much insulin.
Early symptoms of low blood sugar include:
Looking pale
Shakiness
Dizziness or lightheadedness
Sweating
Hunger or nausea
An irregular or fast heartbeat
Difficulty concentrating
Feeling weak and having no energy (fatigue)
Irritability or anxiety
Headache
Tingling or numbness of the lips, tongue, or cheek
Nighttime hypoglycemia may cause you to wake with sweat-soaked pajamas or a headache. Nighttime hypoglycemia sometimes might cause an unusually high blood sugar reading first thing in the morning.
Worsening symptoms can include:
Confusion, unusual behavior or both, such as the inability to complete routine tasks
Loss of coordination
Difficulty speaking or slurred speech
Blurry or tunnel vision
Inability to eat or drink
Muscle weakness
Drowsiness
You can raise your blood sugar quickly by eating or drinking a simple sugar source, like glucose tablets, hard candy, or fruit juice.
High blood sugar (hyperglycemia),
Blood sugar can rise for many reasons. For example, it can rise due to eating too much, eating the wrong types of foods, not taking enough insulin, or fighting an illness.
If you have a blood sugar reading above 240 mg/dL (13.3 mmol/L), test for ketones using a urine test stick. Don’t exercise if your blood sugar level is above 240 mg/dL or if ketones are present. If only a trace or small amounts of ketones are present, drink extra noncalorie fluids to flush out the ketones.
Get smart on carbs.
When you eat or drink foods that have carbohydrates—also known as carbs—your body breaks those carbs down into glucose (a type of sugar), which then raises the level of glucose in your blood. Your body uses that glucose for fuel to keep you going throughout the day. This is what you probably know of as your “blood glucose” or “blood sugar.” When it comes to managing diabetes, the carbs you eat play an important role. After your body breaks down those carbs into glucose, your pancreas releases insulin to help your cells absorb that glucose.
When someone’s blood glucose is too high, it is called hyperglycemia. There are a few causes for “highs,” including not having enough insulin in your body to process the glucose in the blood or the cells in your body not effectively reacting to the insulin that is released, leaving extra glucose in the blood. Low blood glucose is known as hypoglycemia. “Lows” can sometimes be caused by not consuming enough carbohydrates or an imbalance in medications. In short, the carbs we consume impact our blood glucose—so balance is key!
Carbohydrates in food
There are three main types of carbohydrates in food: starches, sugar, and fiber. As you’ll see on the nutrition labels for the food you buy, the term “total carbohydrate” refers to all three of these types. The goal is to choose carbs that are nutrient-dense, which means they are rich in fiber, vitamins, and minerals and low in added sugars, sodium, and unhealthy fats. When choosing carbohydrate foods:
Eat the most of these: whole, unprocessed, non-starchy vegetables. Non-starchy vegetables like lettuce, cucumbers, broccoli, tomatoes, and green beans have a lot of fiber and very little carbohydrate, which results in a smaller impact on your blood glucose. Remember, these should make up half your plate according to the Plate Method!
Eat some of these: whole, minimally processed carbohydrate foods. These are your starchy carbohydrates and include fruits like apples, blueberries, strawberries, and cantaloupe; whole intact grains like brown rice, whole wheat bread, whole grain pasta, and oatmeal; starchy vegetables like corn, green peas, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, and plantains; and beans and lentils like black beans, kidney beans, chickpeas, and green lentils. If you’re using the Plate Method, foods in this category should make up about a quarter of your plate.
Try to eat less of these: refined, highly processed carbohydrate foods and those with added sugar. These include sugary drinks like soda, sweet tea, and juice; refined grains like white bread, white rice, and sugary cereal; and sweets and snack foods like cake, cookies, candy, and chips.
Lee came to her brother’s straight from work, only stopping at the grocery store near campus to pick up a bottle of wine, plus grapefruit soda and some limes to make palomas. Even though it was Sunday, she’d gone to the law school to get some last-minute prep work done. She was at least dressed more comfortably than usual, in a plain gray sweater and jeans.
She smiled as her brother opened the door, and gave him a quick hug as she stepped inside. “Bem, irmãozinho. E tú?” {Good, little bro. And you?} She smelled the familiar scent of fish and spices wafting in from the kitchen. “Smells good. Thanks again for taking care of dinner,” she told her brother. “So, how was your Valentine’s?”
Javier returned her smile and easily returned the hug, his arms wrapped around her for a moment. Once she had stepped inside, he closed the door behind her and walked toward the kitchen so that he could give the moqueca a stir. "Good. I love moqueca, but it seems silly to just make it for myself," he said, and then added, "Of course." Javi was not a professional chef like Enzo, but both twins clearly had a love for feeding people. "I've got the moqueca with cod, obviously, and then I made side salads and a bit of white rice in case you wanted it." Even though he was bigger than her, Javi knew he'd always be irmãozinho to Leonor.
"Valentine's was good. I went to the party for a bit, mostly just because I should as BCO advisor," he shrugged. "It was nice; they had a real focus on it not being for couples, so that made it a bit nicer going alone. Tell me you did something for yourself, even if it was just treating yourself to a massage."
Closed starter for @bostonleonor at Javi's condo.
Spending time with family was important to Javi, and now that Lee was back in Boston, he wanted to really catch up with her. Sure, they texted and had phone and video calls, but nothing beat face-to-face interaction. And Javier got to cook for her. Unlike his twin, Enzo, he was not a professional chef, but Javi was still a good cook and liked cooking for others. He'd made Moqueca with cod since Lee had said she wanted fish, and made a small amount of rice to go with it. He wouldn't have much, if any, rice; the carbs would spike his blood sugar, but it was traditional, and he wanted to have some in case she wanted it. Javi also made a nice side salad for both of them.
He was dressed comfortably in jeans and a maroon long-sleeved shirt with Latin music playing on the speakers in his condo. For the moment, the music was in Spanish, and Javi sang along as he checked everything. He was fluent in Brazilian Portuguese, English, and Spanish. The knock on the door came, and he made his way over to open it with a smile as he greeted, "Oi, Lee. Entra. Cê tá?" Hey, Lee. Come on in. How are you?
Leonor: I can make margs if you're willing to part with your tequila. A dry wine might pair better though. I'll bring something since you're handling dinner
Javier: What can I say, I like the taste, and 100% tequila has like zero carbs or sugar, so I don't have to bolus any insulin for it—win-win. I'm willing to part with my tequila for the night. A wine could be nice, and dry wines tend to be lower in carbs/sugar, so I won't have to bolus much/any insulin for it. Or a skinny marg, if you're feeling the margaritas more.
Javier: Sounds good, fish it is.
Javier: Are you planning on going to that Valentine's pajama party at the Community Center?
Javi: I know, I know. I swear, overachieving is an Acosta family trait.
Javi: I know you would, and I love you for it.
Javi: The 15th works; I've put it on my calendar. Do you have a preference for what the protein is in the moqueca or no? As the mixologist between the two of us, do you want to bring something to drink? All I really have in the way of alcohol is Fortaleza Reposado.
Javi: I won't, Lee, and you do the same with BU and Nguyen Law.
Javi: It's going well. No, it's not, and Zoie is Zoie; I knew what I signed up for. I really do feel like we're making a difference in the community, Lee, and you know I wouldn't be there if it wasn't good.
Javi: As nice as it would be to get the whole família together, I was thinking just you and me might be easier with our schedules right now. What's your availability like the week of the 16th, and how do you feel about my moqueca?
Javier: I'd say make sure you're at least taking some time for yourself, but with both my jobs, that feels too hypocritical.
Javier: Working. The hotel and the BCO are keeping me very busy, especially with Valentine's coming up.
Javier: Not that I'm doing anything for Valentine's or have anyone to spend it with, but once the work craziness is over for me, would you want to get together for a meal?
"Advanced is much more our speed, then," Sonya noted, her voice carrying a hint of genuine approval. She appreciated that he didn't feel the need to puff his chest out and pretend he was above learning. "The sessions are actually a rotating curriculum. Next week is focused on heavy implements—specifically for those who have the stamina and the control for longer scenes."
"Then follow me, Sir" she said, her tone shifting into something a bit more formal. "If you have the time, you deserve to see the items we don't put out for the casual browsers. These require a bit more appreciation." She led him toward the back of the store, where the lighting dimmed and the air felt cooler, scented more strongly of high-grade leather and polish. She stopped before a dark-wood cabinet and pulled a small silver key from her pocket.
"These are from a small atelier in Florence," she explained, her voice softening with a touch of homesick pride. She pulled out a heavy, double-layered bullhide paddle. It was thick, beautifully balanced, and looked like it could withstand a lifetime of use. "They treat the leather until it has the weight of a stone but the flexibility of a whip. It’s designed for a specific kind of thud—the kind that resonates in the bone rather than just stinging the skin." She held it out to him, handle-first, but she didn't let go immediately when he reached for it. She looked up at him, her small frame utterly dwarfed by his, but her eyes held a sharp, knowing intensity. "Go ahead. Test the weight," she urged, a playful tilt to her head.
Javier gave a nod of his head as she spoke, making a mental note about the session for next week. He would have to check his calendar before committing to attend, but it was definitely something he was considering. It wasn't lost on him—the title that she used with him—sure, it could be used with anyone who was male, but it held a weight between them as Dominant and submissive that had been built into the very fabric of their society. Javier had noticed the forest green ring on her finger. As he followed her, his stride confident, Javier could imagine why Harper kept these separate. Not only were they probably more advanced than the ones that could be found in the front of the store, but they were also likely more expensive. It didn't really matter to Javier, though he certainly wouldn't pay for something that was ridiculously overpriced. He understood that true quality products took time and money to make and that they were worth the extra cost compared to buying one from the front of the shop that would break easily or not meet his needs. Besides, he had two jobs; why spend the hours he did working if he couldn't splurge on himself now and then?
"Interesting," he replied, noting the change in her voice but not commenting on it; it was none of his business. "And if I wanted the Lust Loft to custom-order something from them in the future, would that be possible?" As she described it, he couldn't help but wonder if that was something she knew from reading a pamphlet or from firsthand experience, but he didn't say it aloud. His hand reached out to take the paddle; for a moment, his eyes locked on how small her hand looked on it compared to his own, then his gaze lifted to meet hers. For a moment, Javier froze, and his breath hitched. The air felt charged, like the submissive in her was calling out to him with that look in her eyes. He felt it in his soul. Control yourself, Javier told himself as his tongue wet his dry lips. When her hand let go, he tested the weight of it in one hand, then the other, feeling the smooth, soft leather under his hand. "What would you say the pain rating is on it?"
Alright, I've been thinking. We've all heard of the great "over or under" debate when it comes to toilet paper. But, what I really want to know is...When brushing your teeth, should you wet the toothbrush before or after you put the toothpaste on it? #theworldwantstoknow
As the man approached, Sonya felt the air in the room shift. It wasn't just his height—though at five-foot-nothing, she was used to looking up at most of the world—it was the unmistakable, steady gravity of a Dominant who was comfortable in his own skin. Her smile remained perfectly intact, though her pulse did a quick flutter. She gestured toward the wide, industrial staircase at the back of the store. "The workshops are held every evening from six to seven-thirty. They are designed as a foundation—trauma-aware, risk-managed, and led by Mentors who understand that the headspace is just as important as the hardware."
She tilted her head, her blonde hair catching the overhead lights as she studied him with a curious gaze. She had to crane her neck slightly to meet his eyes, a physical reminder of the power dynamic built into their very biology. "For impact play specifically, we offer a specialised session. It covers everything from anatomy and sweet spots to the psychological release that comes after the sting." She paused, a small spark lighting up her eyes. "Though, for someone with your… build, I imagine you’re looking for something that can handle a bit of strength. Most off-the-shelf paddles wouldn't last a week in the hands of someone who doesn't know their own power." She turned slightly, indicating a locked wooden cabinet behind her where the more bespoke, heavy-duty items were kept. "If you have a moment, I can show you the custom leatherwork we have."
His eyes followed where she gestured, and he listened. "That's good," he agreed easily. The headspace was just as important, if not more important, than the hardware. "I'd expect nothing less than that from Harper." His eyes lowered to meet her gaze, and it wasn't lost on him that this was a physical reminder of the power imbalance that their bodies craved, that they couldn't live without. She had to be something like a foot shorter than him, if Javi had to guess. "I'm not looking for an introductory class, but I'd be interested if a more advanced class was offered at some point." Javi did impact play regularly, knew where to hit and where not to hit, and knew psychologically how euphoric or emotional a good impact session could be for a submissive, but that didn't mean he thought that he knew absolutely everything.
He gave a nod of his head in agreement. Yes, he wanted something that could handle some strength; the last thing he wanted was for it to break before he'd barely used it. "I like to think I know my own strength, but you're right, I want something that can handle some strength. " Javi paused for a moment to look at his watch. He was both checking the time to make sure he could stay for a bit and checking what his Dexcom said his blood sugar was, which was linked through his Apple Watch. "I've got some time. I'd love to check that out."
The scent of the Lust Loft was a curated blend of expensive leather, vanilla-scented candles, and the faint, metallic tang of heavy-duty hardware. It was a sensory overload that Sonya usually found grounding. Here, everything had a purpose. Everything had a rule. She stood behind the polished glass counter of the lingerie section, her fingers moving with practiced precision as she folded a sheer, emerald silk robe. The blonde had become an expert at handling things she wouldn't let herself wear—at selling fantasies she no longer believed in for herself.
The bell above the door chimed, cutting through the low hum of the ambient lounge music. Sonya smoothed her skirt, a professional, polite smile appearing on her face like a shutter closing over a window. She didn't look for a connection; she looked for a customer. "Welcome to the Loft," she said, her voice carrying that faint, melodic lilt she could never quite shake. "Are you here for the workshop upstairs, or can I help you find something special on the floor?" She looked at the newcomer, her blue eyes bright but unreadable—the perfect hostess, perfectly out of reach.
Dressed sharply in a tailored blue suit that accentuated his build, he wore his Dominant ring proudly on his right ring finger. As he pushed open the door, the soft chime of the bell above his head greeted him, a sound that brought back memories of past visits, though it had been some time since he'd actually been in the shop. Usually, he just saw Harper, the owner, at the monthly BCO meetings. He paused for a moment, taking in the ambiance of the shop, and realized it had been quite a while since his last visit—perhaps a year or so, if he were to guess.
He walked up to the woman who greeted him and seemed friendly and knowledgeable. "Hi," he said. "Since I haven't been here in a while, I didn't remember that they offered workshops, but I was actually considering purchasing something for impact play, too. Would you mind telling me more details about those workshops?" He spoke with a warm smile, stepping closer, his movements exuding a natural confidence and friendliness. Javier knew that his well-built body and six-foot height made him intimidating to some people.
location: outside sweet dreams bakery
for: open @beantownstarters
With a huff Zoie placed the freshly updated sidewalk sign just to the left of the bakery's door, pushing its leg with the outer corner of her foot, angling it slightly. Bringing her hands to her hips the Domme surveyed her work eyes bouncing from the sign's colorful lettering to the front door of Sweet Dreams then back again, taking in the cohesiveness of the scene before her. Tilting her head, Zoie turned her attention towards the individual making their way down the sidewalk, heading straight towards her. "You." She called as they approached, pointing for added effect. "Stand here." Stepping to her left, she gestured to the spot which she herself had been occupying a moment before. "Does that look...Right to you? Something looks...Off. Can't quite put my finger on what, though."
Javier had been running some errands downtown, walking instead of driving. It was a good exercise, and he thought it was faster than trying to find a place to park at each shop. As he walked by Sweet Dreams, he hadn't expected Zoie to be outside, much less pull him into whatever she was doing. Javi's eyebrow raised at the order; it sure sounded like an order to him anyway, but Javi wasn't offended. "Hello to you too, Zoie," he replied with a smirk and a light laugh before he stepped into the spot she'd indicated. For a moment, he paused and looked at the sign while he listened to her speak. There was nothing actually wrong with it that he could see. The name was spelled right; maybe it was the coloring or design of it that felt off to her. After a moment, Javi said, "What are you trying to convey with it? What vibe do you want it to give people?"
