EXPOSing Diabetes Cairns

Yesterday was a big day out for diabetics, Type 1, 2 & 3, in Cairns. Diabetes Queensland hosted 'EXPOSing Diabetes', a one day event with specific programs for Type 1s and Type 2s (and their carers/supporters). So along Fiance and I went.

Topics for Type 1s included Exercise, Mental Health, Travel, Sick Days, Current Management, Carb Counting, Pumping and info about DAQ's services. As much as all the educational stuff sounded interesting, I was most looking forward to seeing which companies had come to set up stalls as well as meeting new fellow T1Ds and their families. Well there wasn't many stalls and the day was so jam packed with presentations that there wasn't much time get to know new people unfortunately!

I have to thank Diabetes Queensland for bringing the event to Cairns though, and I hope that it can grow and develop into an annual or bi-annual date claimer. This might be stating the obvious, but I enjoyed the presentation on exercise the most. The presenter, Allan Bolton was engaging and positive about living well with diabetes through exercise, AND he was a Type 1 himself! If you're interested in making exercise work better for your life with Type 1, I recommend checking out his website: www.ext1d.com.au.

An area which in my opinion could have been discussed much better, was mental health and diabetes. Unfortunately the presenter almost made me feel as though I should be more down about having diabetes and I don't think she spent enough time on how to actually be happier. Some quick everyday tips for better mental health would have been a good starting point.

On a fantastic upside though, I LOVE a freebie and a new free diabetic product is actually pretty exciting to me lol so when Accu-chek gave me their Multiclix lancing device yesterday it quiet simply just about made my day! I'm sure I'll be updating you on my thoughts soon and thank you to everyone who shared their experiences with it on facebook last night. A horrible pricker that feels as though its just shot through the other side of my finger and which at the same time seems to resound through my whole body all the while set on just 1 or 2 sets me off into a right ol' cranky mood of hating diabetes and swearing like a trooper. I'd rather take to my finger manually with a lancet!  I've heard only good things about this one so far.

The pumping sesh was also good because, guess what?!?... I'm seriously considering crossing over and have even booked in for my first real education session (this week!)... the first step before making the change...

All in all a great opportunity with plenty of room to grow. I'm looking forward to next time!

Annnnd just to finish my post off... my WTF moment this morning... 

Still racking my brain as to how I woke up to this! Doesn't diabetes just love keeping everyone on their toes!

One Year Without

June 11th 2013 marked the first year since the passing of Mum. While it was a bit of a tough day to say the least, it was also a timely reminder once again of what's really important in life.



So in memory of Mum, here's some of her words of wisdom and life lessons she left with me.

Be kind to others

Don't take life too seriously

Be fit and active

Fall in love

Surround yourself with good friends

Travel, explore and learn

Find your style and rock it

There's no bad day that can't be fixed by a tiara, a smile & some sparkle

One year has gone by so fast, so much so that I almost can't believe it. I still stop and think that I haven't even really yet got my head around the fact I can't just call Mum when ever I want to. But, I'm in a good place. I'm proud of where I am one year on, and the journey from last June to this June has in many ways been rather incredible. Most importantly I am much better at letting go of matters and people who are draining on my life, which has lead to me to met and connect with many new, beautiful and caring souls. Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this blog and the facebook page over the last year. Your support and encouragement has meant the world to me!

Funday Friday

 So SO glad its Friday! And what a way to end a full on week but with a Fun Run! Every time I've gone to blog this week I've felt a bit tired and stumped. So much as gone on since I last blogged, just lots of little things, but it's also a strange time of year for me - having lost Nanna in May 2011 and Mum in June 2012.

Mum with Nanna when she was a teen

This week started well but but soon became hectic when I became full time (unprepared, ill-equipped) doggie sitter on top of unexpected extra hours at work. With dad & brother in China for 2 weeks, my fiance & I have been checking in on the house 2-3 times a day. Unbeknown to us, the dog was barking...all day. The little terror was always quiet as a mouse when ever we arrived, I can only imagine she heard us coming and stopped! A neighbour finally called as they were worried something had happened to dad. I, just like the next person, hate barking dogs, but the thing is, the owners probably just don't know its happening. I wish someone had of said something before it had gone on for 6 whole days! I sincerely apologise to all neighbours of barking dogs, its horrible!

So, I've been juggling work & dog sitting since Wednesday. Mistakenly I thought I could leave her alone for 3 hours yesterday...WRONG!... came home to a note on the front door...

Still had to go to work that night though, and with no where else to take her or anyone to look after her at such short notice, to work she came. She did well, no barking... but alot of pacing the parking lot... dog pee in the car is not what I needed!

Amidst the juggling, Fiance also boarded a plane to Tasmania, requiring a 4.30am drive in (dog came too of course) after an 11pm finish the night before and a ahead of a 10pm finish that night. 'When it rains it pours!'

A beautiful surprise came Thursday though when the love of my life sent a huge bunch of gorgeous flowers to keep me going and 'just because'.






And here we are, finally! Its Friday and what a day already! The fun run kicked off at 7am and I was so excited to be join by the beautiful Julie and Jordana, who had even made their own shirts! We stuck together as a team and finished in about 30mins. No lows or highs!

Old School: Made a shirt with an Iron-on transfer last night.

Run belt ready: Blood meter, strips, pricker, jellybeans, phone & car key

With fellow T1D Jordana and lovely mum Julie

Found another T1 at the finish line, he'd missed the start of the run!

Almost the same as when I started! Very happy, but starting to feel it was going to drop...quick.

Fun run over, time to pick up Bella, a skinny cap & a treat.

The treat! A naughty French Pastry.

Arriving home, a beautiful rainbow appeared! A perfect start to the day.

Check out what runs are coming up next, there's always room for more!

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!