Travel Tips: A recent reminder from Asia

After my recent travels to Thailand and Hong Kong (and recent misadventure - see my last post), I
was reminded of the little important things when it comes to travelling better with diabetes. And maybe that over the years I've become a little too relaxed at times! Having a travel buddy is a very welcome asset when it comes to traveling with diabetes but it is still important to be independent, self sufficient and aware of your surroundings.


Here's the biggest points from my recent trip:

So much to catch up on!

Working two roles, an Asian Holiday (then an Asian flu) and a lost password = weeks away from blogging!

Oh, plus then spending the last week trying to actually get back on track with everything...

We went to a Thai cooking school while in Bangkok. So good!

But here I am finally, Hi! Thank you to everyone who emailed and commented over the last few weeks, I am slowly getting back to everyone, so please don’t think I’ve forgotten you. Some interesting things happened during that time though which I thought I’d share with you. (Maybe too many for one post though!) One of which was a meeting with our regional Medtronic rep about pumping, largely in thanks to a MM FB friend (Thanks Peter). That was rather exciting. The rep was really nice and helpful and I've booked in with the diabetes centre with the view of going onto the pump in December or January. Will keep you posted on that one though because we all know I just can’t seem to decide!!!

I was also approached by a pharmaceuticals company and asked if I would like to trial some of their newest products which have been developed with Diabetics in mind. Now I've seen quite a few forums and discussion about pharmaceutical products developed for diabetics, from the diabetic point of view... and it seemed to be a surprisingly debated topic – so I’m going to dedicate a whole post to the products on here soon.

Smoothies available at our hotel.
 For some reason the name put me off...

After an exhausting few weeks filling two roles at work (stepping up into my manager’s position while still doing my own, which also meant going from 4 days a week to 6), Fiancé and I jetted off to Thailand and Hong Kong for a way more hectic ‘holiday’ than we’d planned. I was exhausted, have a I mentioned that yet? haha, and for some reason felt wonky the whole first week, and my blood sugars we’re swinging round like Tarzan. By the second week I thought I had everything under control and then BAMM I had a panic attack at a Thailand train station in the sweltering heat, in one of the only places I think I've ever been in Bangkok where they didn't sell ANY western type drink WHATSOEVER. There are Pepsi signs and paraphernalia literally plastered all over Bangkok, but not there! So here we were on the side of Bangkok we’d never been remotely near before, ages from our hotel with no phone and a limited supply of jellybeans, trying to guess at what the labels said (I speak no Thai and also had a serious case of blurred vision and thinking). All the while leading up I’d felt fine, so my confusion at so suddenly feeling low AND then the usual signs of a panic attack coming on probably just made things worse. I’m still confused, My BG was only 4.8...but maybe my meter was hot (although it was wrapped up in my bag), and maybe I was really dehydrated...  I was prepared for a normal low or two but not that weird weird panic attack/low I was having. 

We ended up grabbing something that resembled a form of ‘cola’ and figured if there was too much sugar in it I could dose for it, as opposed to fainting or passing out, then we finally got on a train, where thank goodness there was a vacant seat and I sat like a zombie till we got to the hotel. It still baffles me though, as I'm fairly used to hot climates, I've been to Bangkok before, and I'd been having a perfectly normal, happy day... maybe I was getting that flu by then...

A way more exciting adventure that happened on holiday though was that my beautiful Thai friend, her mother (who speaks no English) and I went wedding dress shopping! Before I go any further, I need to mention that Type 1 diabetes is not very common in Thailand, not like it is in Australia, America, the UK and so on, it is seen as a ‘western disease’. So I started to tell the wedding dress designers that in my dream dress I would like:

1.      Pockets

2.      Easy access to my stomach

3.      The ability to go to the bathroom unassisted (I think most will know what I mean by this, Bridesmaids can often find themselves with the unfortunate job of holding piles of tule, organza and ruffles as the bride tries to sit down... and I imagine diabetics may find they need to do this more often??)

4.      Not to get over heated (on account of what it seems to do to my blood sugar)

5.      Oh and to be able to walk, breath, eat and sit properly...

Then I saw it, them looking back at me like ‘here comes the bridezilla’. Or maybe I was paranoid. Either way I whipped out my blood meter and accessories to emphasise my point. They just looked blankly and said ‘that’s what bridesmaids are for’... and then I could feel my control issue thoughts popping into my head. I've never not been the one to be fully in control of all my diabetes gear!

I tried on a dress though and fell in love. There are no pockets and it’s quite possibly going to be a nightmare going to the bathroom. But it’s beautiful, made me feel like a real bride and well I guess, you only do this once. I actually felt jittery trying it on. There is no other reason to wear a dress like this except for your wedding day, and I say that in a good way. I can walk just fine and breathe relatively well in it too, so that’s a bonus!

I think I’m going to need a garter though... and not for any old tossing tradition. No, its cos I’m pretty sure I’ll be packing diabetes there. Super sexy I know.

Diabetes and a Career

As some of you may have seen on facebook, I had a somewhat tiring start to the week. I was all set to walk out the door, ready to drive to work and BAMM! All of a sudden I felt dizzy. Confused and thinking to myself ' I CANNOT be low'... my BG is soooo sticky in the mornings, so much so that some days nothing seems to bring it down except a a good few units and a run (and then sometimes a follow up shot mid-morning!). I pricked my finger just in case. 2.8! ArrGHhh, I was going to be late for work.

As I sat there recovering, jelly beans in one had, extra strong coffee in the other, I thought what do other diabetics do when this happens? When your job is effected because of diabetes. Have you ever not applied for or taken a job because you were Type 1? Do you think you've ever not been accepted into a job because they knew you were diabetic? Have you ever pushed yourself too far at work, just because you didn't what anyone to know that diabetes was actually making life really difficult in that moment?

In the grand scheme of things, this low seemed simple enough but it came at a time when I was supposed to be responsible for an entire public venue, I was supposed to be at work on time. To make matters worse, we had a fire evacuation just two hours after I got to work and I had an extra long day ahead (8am to 9.30pm) which just became so much more daunting since obliterating my energy stores with such a random blood sugar crash. And of course, its not the first time I've gone low and sat munching away, feeling pressured about the extremely inappropriate timing and aggravating sense of humour diabetes seems to have.

I would really love to hear from you about your career. Did diabetes change your career plans? Stop you, or prevent you from fulfilling a role, or a duty? Or maybe it propelled you into a career you hadn't really planned on? Have you made career 'sacrifices' because you've wanted to make better diabetes choices?

What are the little things that help you manage your work life with Type 1?... What are the hardest elements to balance when it comes to a working with diabetes?

One of the biggest stumbling blocks I encountered growing up with Type 1 was a lack of role models who also had Type 1. When I was 10 there was no internet: no Facebook, no blogging, no DOC. We didn't even really get the internet in our home until 1999, but it seemed so foreign and somewhat of a novelty that it didn't really occur to me to use it for diabetes. Then life carried on with other things, as it does when you're a teenager, and its only been in my late twenties that its become such an important part of my approach to living with this condition. I had so desperately wanted some one to look up to though, to show me that diabetes doesn't stop you, that we can still be leaders and champions, that we can be responsible for others, that we can be successful and hold our own.

The DOC is amazing. If only for showing that a happy, healthy, life with Type 1 is possible AND that you are not alone in your frustrations, fear, anger and frequent irony that is life with Type 1. Thank you to every one of you who blog, post, share, comment and just connect. It makes life with Type 1 that much easier.

Feel free to email me your thoughts if you don't wish to comment below.
x

Insanity Workout: Month Two, Week Three.2

We're repeating week three.
I pretty much missed an entire week of Insanity over the last two weeks due to the holiday and work, so it seems only fair... (I may have also eaten twice what I normal should during that time too!). Insanity really is an amazing workout, amazing because its extremely hard and certainly requires a level of dedication, if only to find the time to fit it into a busy life. Especially now that the workouts are around an hour long. Last nights work out 'Max Interval Circuit' literally had us both on the ground feeling dizzy by the end. Despite a starting BG of 6.9 I constantly felt a bit faint. Re-checking throughout the workout I remained 6.9 exactly.. so not sure what happened! I constantly had to bail for a few seconds at a time throughout but still managed to burn close to 600 cals... and as hard as it was, I'm definitely getting better. Needless to say, that I'm having some very heavy sleep after these long workouts though. Which is great except that I've started to go high in the early hours the last two nights (something that I've always battled with) and usually I'll wake up and can address the issue. Well I haven't been. Not only must my body be exhausted, I think I must be a bit dehydrated too.

Unfortunately I have also woken with a sore right arch in my foot today. This is the first time this has happened despite almost two months of workouts with no shoes on. I can only imagine its because last night's workout was 60mins and I was really going for it. I was also getting really sore wrists and couldn't complete the last set of full body drills (combo including moving push-ups, running push-ups, oblique push-ups, side suicide jumps - probably not using the correct terminology here but you get the drift).

I will be back at this afternoon though. May have to try shoes! And I can only keep trying to get those annoying morning highs in check (a downright depressing way to start the day!).


On a slightly different note,

Nothing Like a Holiday!

Five days in Melbourne seemed to be just what the doctor ordered! While I did no exercise, well except for hours of walking around the city indulging in much too much coffee, great food and enough shopping that the plastic coating on top of my card has now ripped itself back in protest, my blood sugars seem to have magically sorted themselves out. Before I left my insulin resistance had been at an all time high and I seemed to be in one of those stages where it felt like I just couldn't get anything right... I'd just be high, high, high! My eyes and my feet were starting to ache and I was seriously getting down and out about everything. BUT, five days of rest, relaxation and retail therapy with my wonderful fiancé helped me come down, take in some well needed 'me' time, and learn to let my worries go. Have I ever said how evil and horrible stress is?!? It just creeps in, mounts up and can still be lingering even when you think you're ok... dribbling its evil disease through your body...ok maybe getting carried away, but you get the picture.  Not to forget that stress also increases my appetite and gives me a super sweet tooth...ArrRRghh!!!  Holidays are a must!

We got straight back into Insanity when we arrived home on Wednesday too, and its been amazing. Blood sugar perfection. Which is SUCH a relief because I was beginning to think I was going to have to give it up! Still finding though that a small amount of carbs and a little insulin 1-2 hours before I work out in the afternoon is the best way to keep my blood sugar stable while having enough energy to get through a whole workout (i.e a banana and 2 units at 3.30/4pm for a 5.30pm workout). I only managed to fit in three sessions this week though as it is one of the busiest weeks of the year at my work - 10 to 12 hour days, non stop, on your feet, running around type work (stage managing, bar maid, networking all at once, all included). This also made for an interesting little learning opportunity in diabetes management. The nature of the work meant that I couldn't be near my bag (as normal) or just duck off when I wanted to (at one point I was literally plugged into the wall on a radio headset for two hours, back stage, hiding in a curtain giving cues to a technician on the other side of the room...no room for lows, highs or bathroom breaks that's for sure!). So I really had to have everything I could possibly need in a 2-4 hour period strapped to my person.  For the girls out there - I have to make special mention here of Cue clothing. Such a blessing to have decent sized pockets in all their clothing! Looks great and very functional.

All in all feeling much much happier about things. Just need to keep it that way!

And just to finish off today's post, here's a couple of pics of what I've been up to while not posting much lately!

I celebrated my birthday, taking everyone out to a show.
Where fiancé awkwardly got called up on stage to dance.

 

We did The Colour Run! So much fun.
Turned my contacts orange & I had a pink stain on my forehead for two days though!

 

More fun at The Colour Run

Then we did the JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes

 

A Hen's weekend was had...
 a whole other post on dealing with 14 hours of constant drinking!

With the Bride to be!

And then off to beautiful Melbourne, where the weather was perfect!

Absolutely Amazing! Just incredible.

So Good. We'll be back

P!NK in Concert at Rod Laver

Dosing for Cupcakes. There was a lot of insulin injected in Melb!

Oh and we moved house... which I've just been told is one of the most stressful things you can do in life... maybe that's why I was high high high!!!

Insanity Workout: Month Two, Week Two

I almost considered pulling the plug on this thing all together yesterday. It is so hard. Ridiculously hard. Yes the workouts are hard but its balancing everything else that seems to have me down. My blood sugars are back to being crazy and I'm so tired...because of being high and the crazy workouts...that I struggle to get up in the morning, which is really when I need to do my quick little 20-30 min run. The workouts are much longer in month two which seems to be causing more havoc on my blood sugars and I get this weird feeling about three quarters the way through that feels like I've physically fallen through the floor. Its really weird and hard to explain.

The workouts also seem to make me really cranky, which is pretty funny really, since I thought endorphins would kick in to make me happy instead. I also really thought I'd start having lows at some point, but I've never had less lows and more highs in my life as I have while doing Insanity.

Through all this, I still feel some sense of satisfaction and achievement, and there are definitely physical results, but there is much much more to be concerned with. I'd much rather be seeing some good consecutive balanced blood sugar readings pop back up on my blood meter screen! After Friday I'm taking a five day break as I'll be travelling to Melbourne, then its back home to looooooong days at work so I won't have time for the Insanity workouts, maybe just a few quick runs. I think its time to reboot the exercise, take a mini break and come back to Insanity in a week or so... or just continue the month 1 workouts a little while longer. My body is freaking out.

Hello?!? Is it me you're looking for?

I've been missing in the blogosphere for about five weeks now! And right after I told you all I was going to 'get-fit-while-recording-everything-and-being-an-awesome-diabetic'... HA!

Since last posting, I've had a birthday (which we celebrated not once, not twice, but three times!) we've moved home and had to get our old apartment ready to rent out (what a ridiculously HUGE job!), my computer died (makes posting pretty hard), then consequently didn't blog for a while and so forgot my password, been in two fun runs... and my main employer asked me to come back five days a week instead of four (that spare day was doing absolute wonders for my diabetes management and general wellbeing). All the while, my fiancé and I have been trying our darnest to stick to Shaun T's absolutely insane 'Insanity' workout.

Before I get stuck into things, I'd like to say a big big thank you to the very kind souls who contacted me just to say hi and see where I was, or even just to ask when I was actually going to post about something. It's such a rewarding feeling to get feedback as sometimes its easy to wonder if anyone is reading.

So, that brings me to the focus of this post: INSANITY

We just started month two and it felt like I was right back at the very beginning with very very average fitness. I literally thought I was going to vomit while I passed out. Nothing that dramatic happened, but there is a warning at the start of every dvd that warns of all the dire possibilities. If you are thinking of doing Insanity, take those warnings very very seriously. If you don't know what Insanity is, check out this link: Insanity

Let me take you back to the beginning: My Insanity Overview so far!

Week 1: Day one is a fitness test, its hard if simply because you've really no idea what's in store. It was also painful because we did our own weigh and measure...with photos. I'm not beating myself up and I feel blessed for what I do have... but taking those photos was just a bit uncomfortable. The fit test is enough to get you in a state of scared excitement though. Day two: well hello hurt train! Bring on the pain! Its about at day 2 and 3 that I began to wonder if maybe I needed a different dvd, like an Insanity for pre-schoolers. I didn't quite think it would hit so hard so fast. My calves in particular where killing, it was like walking around with rocks duct taped to the back of my legs, unbelievable and absolutely no word of a lie! At this point we had to start upping our dose of magnesium because we were finding it hard to sleep through the muscle pain at night. My blood sugars were also now entering a major state of confusion. Day 4: Shaun T had me, I don't think I could even do another squat, let alone a jumping one followed by high knees, globe jumps, push ups, power jacks etc etc (that's just the warm up by the way!). Day 5 my blood sugars had started going high right before I started (adrenalin?) and then plummeting half way in, only to skyrocket after. Ughhhhh I was beginning to wonder if it was insane of a diabetic to do this! Day 6 I hobbled through and Day 7, well Shaun T believes in a day of rest on Sundays thank GOODNESS!!

Week 2: Much much better than week 1! While I still struggled to make it through a full workout largely in part to my crazy blood sugars, my muscles seemed to be in less pain after each workout, and I'm so glad I hung in there. The magnesium was really working and I was actually having some of the best night sleep in a long long time. At this stage I was still working out 3-5 mornings a week at the gym (30-45mins) and we were doing the Insanity workout in the afternoons around 5.30pm. I was also getting a lot better at feeling what my blood sugar was during a workout, and pushing my limits without much consequence. Normally if my blood sugar was sitting around 5 mmol I wouldn't keep going but I've managed to push through that fear and everything has been fine. In this week I noticed that I was going high if I hadn't had insulin in the last 4 hours before a workout. So I started making sure I had either enough carbs at lunch (around 1.30pm) to dose for, or a substantial snack of about 30 carbs around 3pm (that I dosed for). I dropped my usual ratio just a little and I would start the workouts about 9-11 mmol and finish about 6-9 mmol.

My biggest struggle during this week was the horrendous pain I was getting in the arches of my feet (this was happening the week before but I thought it might go away with time). My fiancé was also getting a bit of pain, so I wasn't overly concerned it was a diabetic problem, but it was stopping me working out. So I just got rid of my shoes all together and have since been doing the workout in bare feet. Now I'm not suggesting everyone do this, it just works for me. I have to be extremely mindful of how I land and stretch and so on, and we have invested in some matting which helps with shock absorption.

Week three: I was starting to get much more used to what to expect and this is when we really started focusing on technique, repetitions and duration (as in trying like crazy to keep up with Shaun T & his posse, start to finish!). Its also the point where I'd get overly frustrated if my blood sugars weren't right. With Insanity if my blood sugars where any higher than 12 I just couldn't do it, it was like trying to smash through a brick wall with my hands tied behind my back and a rubber band pulling me the other way. Throughout the weeks I'd also been wearing a heart rate monitor. At the beginning of week three we did out fortnightly fit test and this is when we both started to notice a real difference in our strength and endurance. I was already noticeably fitter and despite going harder by this time, my heart rate was much more controlled. On average I was burning 300-350 calories for a 35-45 minute session (There was still room to go harder...but the diabetes balancing act was slowing me down).

Week 4 (& 5): Because I'd been sick on an off during week one and two...plus it had just been HARD and we all have a life so I'd found it hard to do six workouts a week, we decided to do an extra week in the first month. Sure glad we did! Around about this time is also when I started noticing physically changes. Unfortunately I'm still a while off a six pack, for numerous reasons: The first being that my stomach is not instantly going to be forgiving of me after 18 years of injecting liquid into it multiple times a day. The second being that trying to make diabetes work with Insanity has been tough. I've had to work out eating, sleeping, & dosing to a fine art all over again. Its not like running and its not like the gym, its been a whole other realm of diabetes juggling to work out as I've discovered I need to be absolutely spot on (with everything! water intake, sleep, type of food, protein intake) to get the most out of it, otherwise I die half way through or have to eat jellybeans...defeats the purpose a bit! Its also meant that while my fiancé just keeps smashing through, I'd pull back and think 'how hard should I really push today?'. And then of course things constantly change as I get fitter and used to this type of workout. As you would all know, that sort of understanding and planning doesn't happen overnight! It probably took me 2-3 weeks to settle into it properly (and I'm still tweaking of course).

Something else I've found is that its been really easy to get dehydrated. By week 4 I felt depleted and weak throughout out the day despite drinking 1-2 litres of water a day, and eating well so I started taking some electrolytes every now and again which has made a bit difference.

BUT I've definitely toned up and lost cms. I have not lost weight though. Which simply says to me that I've put on muscle.

In week four we went for our first run since starting the program. I was simply blown away. I ran 5k with absolutely no dramas. I'd barely even run to my car in the last two months, and there I was, 5k easy. I've never felt stronger or fitter. My clothes fit differently, in a great way and I feel more confident. 5 weeks in and I can guarantee I'd already achieved worth while results.


Recovery Week: I actually really enjoyed this week and got excited to come home to it (I'll admit, there is a particular kind of dread coming home to Insanity every other day!). But then our sense of excitement had us worried about what was in store in month 2. My blood sugars were also horrible, so so horrible this week. Just high high high. No matter what I did. I was actually starting to get depressed! I had stopped going to the gym the week before this and I think combined with the stress of moving, it was all just a bit much!!!

Month Two: So here I am, week 1, month 2... and as I said, I thought I was going to vomit. Its hard. really hard. But surprisingly I find the warm up sessions easier. False sense of security though. I will update you again as the weeks go on!!


My conclusion so far? Is it as Insane as it claims? Heck Yes!! Would I recommend doing it? Abso-freaking-lutely!