Conscious Unwind

Sunday, the day of rest. The scheduled day of rest more like it. I love schedule, and despite advances in diabetes technologies and medications working to create a more free, relaxed and 'normal' lifestyle for diabetics, I find that the theories I was taught when diagnosed with diabetes, based on schedule, still work best for me. Maybe this is because I am still on injections, or maybe it is simply because that's the way I first learnt how to deal with diabetes.

Sticking with a schedule can be hard, some weeks more so than others. But it gets me results. This week was jammed packed, and as much as I tell myself every weekend that the week ahead is not going to be so hectic, it some how still is! This week I put just that little too much into my week and my schedule got completely blown. I got tired, really tired. The type of tired where you're having to go without other important things just to find enough time to sleep. The type of tired that makes your blood sugars crash through the floor just because your body can't seem to be bothered enough to hang in there normally. So of course this only leads to the need for more sleep and then HEY PRESTO! I'm caught up in that ridiculous diabetes cycle of blood sugar swings and mood changes, that only a scheduled day of conscious rest can cure.

If I had of stuck to the basic framework of my weekly schedule, this wouldn't of happened. I didn't stick to it because I fell back into my old ways of putting everybody and everything else before myself. Putting ourselves first can seem selfish sometimes, or somehow less important. Sometimes our desire to help others, or to just finish that one last assignment, project or task just takes over. Or even worse, that desire to just be 'normal' and ignore my diabetic needs as I jam more and more in - even though everyone, diabetic or not, shoudl be taking time out to uwind, exercise and eat well, everyday! I even joke that I became 'possessed' by the computer sometimes when I just can't seem to break away to go eat, exercise or dose... sometimes even pushing my limits when I know I'm going low. Without first looking after our own health and well being though, how can we be our best for everyone else? How can we finish that task, wholly look after a third pary or achieve all our goals long term if we don't put our basic needs first

Then its just a matter of remembering this, and actually putting this message into practise - everyday - to be here longer and stronger...