Day 6 & 7: Spread the Love

"As another Diabetes Blog Week draws to a close, let’s reflect on some of the great bloggers we’ve found this week. Give some love to three blog posts you’ve read and loved during Diabetes Blog Week, and tell us why they’re worth reading. Or share three blogs you’ve found this week that are new to you."

Sooooo this might be cheating a little but I'm behind on these posts for good reason I promise! In a way, they could be slightly related to the blog topics...1.) I'm in the midst of setting up a Young Persons Type 1 Support group for my area (including posters etc) and 2.) I'm trying to promote two dance performances at my work... all tickets sales (interpreted as revenue) rests on my shoulders... my blood sugars have not been enjoying the stress. So! I am combining the two last posts to spread the love of my fave art posts!

In no particular order:

inDependence - I love the concept of depicting diabetes through the art of living life as caught on camera. Great twist on the blog topic. Beautiful.

Matt @ Insulin Pumps Needs Tetris - I simply can't pass up on sharing the love of these thoughtfully placed strips...

Diabetic Dais - Type 1 Diabetes Supplies Girl is CUTE.

Island in the Net - This one is profound for sure, I instantly connected.

The Tangerine Diabetic - A quick little giggle

Saying it with Pods: Sweetly Voiced, Type 1 Army Family, Death of a Pancreas,

And to round out my Top 10: kudos to the pride and beauty in these two posts.   

Day 5: Freaky Friday

"Just like in the movie, today we’re doing a swap. If you could switch chronic diseases, which one would you choose to deal with instead of diabetes? And while we’re considering other chronic conditions, do you think your participation in the DOC has affected how you treat friends and acquaintances with other medical conditions?"

Since I'm behind with my posts, I'm going to make this one short and sweet. Quite simply, I wouldn't take the opportunity up if offered to swap. Having a chronic disease, is well, a bit of a downer to say the least. It's an everyday hurdle and a tiresome pain in the A@#! I'm not doubting that everyone with a chronic disease, no matter what it is, also feels this. But Diabetes is my disease, and I've taken a while to really accept it and work towards being proactive with it. I don't want to go undoing and changing all that hard work now! I can see that many of my fellow diabetics feel the same, from your posts.

And yes, connecting with other diabetics is definitely a positive part of not only my diabetes management but my life in general! GO DOC!

Day 4: Accomplishments Big & Small

"We don’t always realize it, but each one of us had come a long way since diabetes first came into our life. It doesn’t matter if it’s been 5 weeks, 5 years or 50 years, you’ve done something outstanding diabetes-wise. So today let’s share the greatest accomplishment you've made in terms of dealing with your (or your loved one’s) diabetes. No accomplishment is too big or too small - think about self-acceptance, something you’ve mastered (pump / exercise / diet / etc.), making a tough care decision (finding a new endo or support group / choosing to use or not use a technology / etc.)." 

I'm late posting this one on account of an unexpectedly exhausting week! So big and small, well I think travelling with diabetes can seem epic, especially when venturing to places you've previously never been! At the age of 17, I was accepted into a Youth Exchange Program, but not until I'd convinced them that I could look after myself - confidently and independently. I had originally asked to go to Europe, but the organisers were hesitant: if selected, I would be the first diabetic in the program for that region, ever. I like to think I put up a good argument, but they still weren't keen on me being faced with a language barrier so off I went to Texas, America! There I battled it out with a whole new world of fast food chains (carbs anyone???), 'biscuits' which are more like a savoury pastry scone, Minute Maid, Oreos (WAY TOO MANY), fried chicken, steaks the size of your head, chicken-fried steaks, Grandpa's banana pudding (He was somewhat ignoring the fact he had Type 2 diabetes!), 'Gumbo', the list went on... Amazing. And all the while my 'wing-man', my 'second pair of eyes' - my mum - was on the other side of the world. Needless to say there were a couple of nights where I found myself praying, wishing, hoping to the blood sugar gods to bring my blood sugar down...pleeeeeeeeease! Within the first week of arriving, I also fell horribly ill. I was a shivering mess, and even lost my vision and hearing periodically over a few days. BUT I grew, I explored, I achieved, I conquered with diabetes and had the year of my life, never once wanted to go home. The program has now seen several more diabetics successfully go abroad, and while every diabetic is different, I hope that I set a good strong precedent!

Going to Thailand last year also seemed epic diabetes-wise, at the time. I was paranoid about getting sick or injured.... True to form I picked up a bug on the flight over! But it didn't last long and next minute I was in knee deep water backed up against a wall while 'teenage' Tigers were flying at me from all directions! Maybe that was something I should have been more concerned about! Didn't go low though!

Diabetes = Strength.
Mind and Body.
Sometimes I think we don't really have a choice: if you have diabetes, You've got to be strong. I have days when I plop down on the couch with a case of the 'grumps' and think 'BUT I DON'T WANT TO BE STRONG! Not today, I'm tired, I want a rest'. But then I pick myself up and realise that as much as diabetes means my body isn't working the way it should, somehow it has made me smarter, more resilient, more resourceful. I'm an independent thinker, yet keenly aware of my surrounding situation. In everyday life and emergencies, I have an inner confidence that everything will be ok because I know the right questions to ask, can think on my toes and am used to making quick decisions. I'd like to think I make a pretty dang good friend too, if simply because I always have food and treats on hand, oh and a good sense of humour, always. I've learnt be be observant, listen well and problem solve. I can fashion whole meals out of next to nothing and still give you a general breakdown of carbs and fats. I can multitask but still now when its time to rest. I am more educated on my health, and better equipped in life generally.

If you have Diabetes, or are a parent/carer of a Diabetic this is you too.
This is the Big and Small of diabetes.

Day 3: Memories

"Today we’re going to share our most memorable diabetes day. You can take this anywhere.... your or your loved one's diagnosis, a bad low, a bad high, a big success, any day that you’d like to share."

This photo was taken at a cafe in San Gimignano, Italy, about 8 years ago. This is one of my most memorable diabetes days.

It was the first time I'd ever spent a prolonged amount of time in a constantly cold environment (I'm from the tropics, 18 degrees is cold to me, and well at 16 my brain starts to freeze over!). We'd been travelling in Italy over Christmas and 20 minutes before this I had the lowest blood sugar I've ever had to this day. What's weird is that I didn't feel it at all, and only thought to check my blood sugar as the rest of the family were hungry and it seemed 'about time' that I should! 1.2! I couldn't believe it, and checked twice more. Once I sat down and saw that number, I off course suddenly started to feel it really badly. But being so cold, it was mainly just a foggy brain that had me freaking out a little, and hoping that I wouldn't have a panic attack in public. My beautiful little brother huddled next to me to get me warmer. That's when mum thought the two of us were rather cute and took this picture. I'm not sure where I found the energy to even smile.

My family forgets all this. They just remember what a great day we had. If I remind them of what happened moments earlier they respond with 'Ohhhhhhh, yeah! That's right!'. But when I look at this photo I can see it instantly, it's in my eyes, in my face, I am TOTALLY wreaked.

I now know to watch myself more closely in cold weather as I can't feel lows coming on so well. That combined with the extra exercise one gets when being a 'tourist' seems to bring more of them on as well. It's also a reminder that we as diabetics must always be actively conscious of managing our condition when we travel, as others, no matter how close to you they are, are also distracted and enjoying their holiday and may only think to step in once you've asked them to, or worse... once you've passed out!

Day 2: We, The Undersigned

"Recently various petitions have been circulating the Diabetes Online Community, so today let’s pretend to write our own. Tell us who you would write the petition to – a person, an organisation, even an object (animate or inanimate) - get creative!! What are you trying to change and what have you experienced that makes you want this change?"

There are various petitions out there, and on a serious note, I wish Australia had better, quicker access to newer diabetes management technologies, particularly when it comes to pumping and CGMs. But, with a very ground level approach, I would like to write a petition to the Type 1 individual. The best bit? It needs just one signature to be a success.

Diabetes Blog Week Day 1: Share & Don't Share

Day 1 of Diabetes Blog week is here! Today's topic reads:

"Often our health care team only sees us for about 15 minutes several times a year, and they might not have a sense of what our lives are really like. Today, let’s pretend our medical team is reading our blogs. What do you wish they could see about your and/or your loved one's daily life with diabetes? On the other hand, what do you hope they don't see?"

I'm excited that diabetes blog week is here but this one has me bordering on writer's block already! There's a few reasons for this. 1.) The very nature of writing a blog means that anyone and everyone can read what I'm thinking and going through. My medical team could probably get a much better insight into 'my diabetes' just by popping by for a few moments. 2.) There's nothing really that I hope they don't see. I am who I am. I have great days and not so great days. I am human after all. In fact, I am positive that what I feel are my 'not so great days' are actually equal to someone's good day sometimes!

and 3.) I do wish though that I had a better medical team that got me, that took the time to understand my diabetes, not just text book diabetes. I probably don't visit my local diabetes centre nearly enough, simply because I don't feel I get enough out of the visit to warrant even the lost pay for the time I have to take out to visit. I don't even feel confident that they are up to date enough with research, studies, programs and new technologies. Horrible I know. That's why I decided to start visiting medical professionals outside of the main diabetes care circles as well. Like a dietitian, this was a break through step for me. I am already alot happier. I was sick of being told to simply eat more carbs or be questioned as to why I would prefer almond milk over cows milk, or why was using coconut oil. I don't want to eat more carbs (I feel 120-150g a day is fine) and I don't want to drink more cow's milk. I wanted to eat smarter. That's where a dietitian who wasn't focused on diabetes, but on sports nutrition and energy, and getting to know a new patient, really helped me out. If you're having similar issues, I highly recommend investigating other medical professionals that can look at your individual needs and questions, not just the fact you have diabetes. Remember though, that this is also my experience, and the onus is as much on the patient at times to communicate their needs, wants, and questions, as it is for the medical professional to interpret, inform, guide & treat you. Always of course, still visit your core diabetes management team, but an extra visit to a new face may be what you've been searching for.

I look forward to the day when I can connect with my diabetes centre better. Perhaps when I cross over to pumping.

Sign Up! Sign Up! It's Diabetes Blog Week 2013

How exciting that Diabetes Blog Week is just around the corner thanks to Bitter Sweet Diabetes! There is already a fantastic list of participants and you can begin preparing the topics. I think this is such a wonderful initiative, even just for sharing who else is out there blogging: sharing, connecting and supporting each other in what can be a very complicated life!

I'm really looking forward to seeing everyone's blogs over the coming days. Thanks Bitter~Sweet!

Eat For Health - Latest in Aust Dietary Guidelines

Who's been checking out the latest Australian Dietary Guidelines? 

As Diabetics we obviously factor all sorts of diet and nutrition information into our everyday lives. I found it interesting to go through this site and compare it to my current lifestyle choices.

There are some 'calculator' functions which can show your recommended daily energy and nutrient needs. I don't agree with what it calculated for my energy needs: recommending 9656kj as opposed to the 6000-6500 I'm currently on. The daily nutrient calculations I need to look into further (my calculations pictured)



Worth a look, even if just out of curiosity of what a 'good, standard healthy diet' 'should' look like! Head to their website to check it our for yourself: http://www.eatforhealth.gov.au/

I'd love to hear what you think.

Gluten & Dairy: to eat or not to eat?

After a bit of a binge, and lack of consciousness when it came to watching what I ate on Saturday, I ended up with chronic pain in my abdomen. The type of pain I haven't experienced since I was first told I had gluten intolerance (a trip to Italy gorging on breads, pastas and pastries will apparently do that!).
 
When first told this news, I went all gluten free, alcohol free and dairy free. It worked and I was pain free. After about a year, I started to relax and introduce a bit if dairy, gluten and alcohol back into my diet with no problems. But, I've been too relaxed, and Saturday’s pain was proof. I could hardly sleep, it was as though someone had reached in a grabbed my intestines screwed then into the palm of their hand and wouldn't let go. Years ago when I first became intolerant I sometimes couldn't even stand up straight and would have to retreat to my bed in the foetal position. So, its easy to say I don not want to go back to that situation!

So I think it's time to drastically cut back on the gluten and dairy again (and yes ok, the alcohol too). My body will thank me, I'm sure! 

How many of you are following gluten and/or dairy free diets with Type 1? Or even a Paleo Diet?

Honey Eat This

Over the weekend, my fiance and I visited some community markets in the country, where there were a lot of stalls selling honey. 'Natural, organic, unprocessed' honey. My partner was very enthused as he loves the stuff, I love it too, just my body prefers me to be low before my indulgence (and as some of you might know from previous posts, my midnight low/trance state usually results in me overdosing on honey and butter on toast). So there's all these stall owners holding out spoons of the golden gorgeousness to taste test. Sample size ranging from half to over a full teaspoon... you can probably see where I'm going here... working out my 'can I have it?' math: numerous honey stalls x various varieties + no insulin in bag x lazy Sunday attitude = don't do it!

Partner finds a stall that particularly tickles his fancy, starts taste testing, and the stall owner looks to me, 'Don't you want to try some too?'. 'No thank you' I reply. 'Are you sure, its all natural, different kinds, has healing properties, great for your skin...' she says, pushing a teaspoon at me. Now this is the point I'm sure most diabetics think 'do I say something??'. Well I did this time, 'I'm a Type 1 Diabetic and now is not a good time, thank you though'. Well it seems I brought out the dietitian/scientist/endocrinologist in her as she started to explain to me how unprocessed honey doesn't actually have as much sugar as normal honey so diabetics should include it in their diet, that I should try it and I'd like it. Ummmm well I never said I didn't eat it or like or even understand it, just that now is not the time!!! It was one of those times where I just groaned to my partner that 'after 17 years with diabetes...' I'm pretty confident of the effects of honey on my body and of the 'when to have it, how much can I have, does it need actioning' balancing equation.