10 Things I've Learned About Diabetes

The Magnificent List of Ten Things I've Learned 

About Diabetes In The Past Ten Months.

or

Things Every Diabetic Should Know

After living with diabetes for almost ten months, I consider myself to be something of an expert. Along this bumpy road, I've discovered a few things and thought I might share.

1. Pizza is evil. It might taste delicious with it's gooey cheese and crunchy crust, but don't let it fool you. It's deceptively blood sugar spiking and delicious. It also likes to scream, "HAHA YOU THINK THAT YOU CAN ACURATELY COVER ME SO THAT YOU DON'T GO LOW AND THEN HIGH?! THINK AGAIN!" whenever you eat it. So beware. It's tricky.

2. If you're going to forget your insulin at home while going on a day trip, do it when you're going to Tahoe. The people in the ER there are quite friendly. Not that I would know or anything. >.>

3. No measurement or carb count is going to be exactly accurate. None. So do your best and don't stress when their slightly off.

4. Adrenaline brings your bloodsugar up. Playing dodge ball for four hours might make your blood sugar go up to 400. And then plummet to 35 in a matter of three hours. Ask me how I know.

5. Gushers are great for lows. I know that most people say treat with the rule of 15 (15gm carbs, wait 15 minutes, and then test again and repeat if still low), but I've found that, for myself, 15gm isn't quite enough to make my blood sugar go back up to a good level. 20gm, however, work just fine. Gushers are now my preferred snack when low.

6. People will try to identify with you by saying, "My grandma's cat had diabetes...it died." Yeeeaaahhhh. I think that's enough said.

7.  Having a bad day/in a bad mood? It's your blood sugar. Even when it's not your blood sugar, it's your blood sugar. Now go check it and eat a snack, because you're cranky.

8.  The ladies at the Pediatric Endocrinology and Nutrition Clinic (PENs) are super nice. This is a shout out to Lisa, our social worker; Lisa M., the nurse; Geneva, the dietician; and all the other ladies that make checking up on things and setting new basals easy. You ladies rock. ;)

9. My friends are awesome. Jacquline, Amanda, Jenna, Emma, Selena...all of you ladies rock. You've been supportive and understanding when I can't do things due to bloodsugars or when I just need to rant about life. Love you girls. :)

10. Diabetes has opened me up to new opportunities. I would never have started this blog without diabetes. I wouldn't have been browsing the 'teens with chronic illnesses' thread on the NaNoWriMo forums and would never have met Adeline. It's been a rough past ten months, don't get me wrong, but this is has let me connect with other kids who need a support system. ;)

What are some of the things you've learned about diabetes over the months/years?

For Owen.

Hey Owen. :)

I heard that you're getting bullied and that makes me sad for you. You're awesome and you can't let the words people say define you and get you down. Because at the end of the day, they're just that.
Words.
I know that they hurt. Whoever said that 'sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me' wasn't really telling the truth. Words are the things that hurt the most and it's kinda like they stick to us like we're glue. People throw around words so much that they become who we are. We start to think that those words are what we actually are, when in reality, we're pretty cool. Some people may never see that you're a really neat person. They may never take the time to get to know you and I know how much it hurts to be left behind by friends.
It's the hardest thing in the world, I know, but you can do it. You're able to do anything that you set your mind to. You will find the most amazing friends in the world. You will. I promise.
It gets better. It seems hard, you know, I think being different is always going to be a tough climb. There's always going to be people that are scared of it. But at the end of the day if you give those bullies, those people, that don't know who you are and what you go through, if you give them the power to affect you, you're letting them win. And they don't deserve that. What you're doing by being yourself is keeping it real, and you're being really brave, Owen.

“Some people won't be happy until they've pushed you to the ground. What you have to do is have the courage to stand your ground and not give them the time of day. Hold on to your power and never give it away.”

And if you ever need a friend, I'm right here. :)

No Limits

I am going to first apologize about the rush of this post, Hurricane Sandy is coming ever closer to killing off our power, so I am really hoping it isn't cut before I publish this.

Anyways, moving on. This week's tip from me can really be applicable to anyone with any kind of disease/condition. So here it is:

Don't let Diabetes (or anything else you may have) define you.

I have met plenty of people over the years, who when introducing themselves, immediately recite their medical history. (Exception: When introducing yourself to school nurses, teachers, chaperones, camp counselors, etc. or you're at a diabetic support group meeting/write for a diabetic blog). Diabetes shouldn't be what makes you, you. It shouldn't be the thing that makes people want to be friends with you. It shouldn't be the word that defines you. And that is why the phrase, "who happens to have" is one you should know. 

I am an artist, writer, explorer, reader, athlete, person, who happens to have type-one Diabetes. 

By making Diabetes the most important thing about you, you are giving the disease more power than it should have over your life. Diabetes really shouldn't be the reason for you to not do something. You just have to make sure that you're always prepared and that you're conscious of it, then really you can do everything everyone else can. 

Over the past 8 years I've done so much as a diabetic. I've gone to concerts, traveled to cities on my own, gone to Europe, and I plan to go to college unrestrained my condition. (Although, if you're a newly diagnosed diabetic, I say go in baby steps of what you and your parents deem comfortable.)

Blood Sugar: 146

-Adeline

Don't Give Up.

At first I was going to write about my impending widowhood and the fact that I start pump classes in a week and a half (which will come next week instead), but then I heard this song. Give it a listen and then come back to this post, kay?

don't give up
and help is surely on its way
and don't give up
and the dark is breaking in today
and just keep on moving through these storms
and soon enough you'll find the door
just don't give up
oh and don't give up

This is a lot harder than it looks, isn't it? People say that they get what we have to do, but they don't really, do they? They're not the one's having a million shots all the time and counting everything they eat and going to doctors all the time. They just don't get it.

If you're like me, that's how you felt at the very beginning and even every now and then now that it's been a few months. You're getting kinda tired of the weird looks and questions when you pull out your stuff in public and the questions when you have to stop playing ultimate frisbee to test your bloodsugar. It's not the funnest thing in the world and I feel your pain. I really do. 

But don't give up.

In five short months things have gotten infinitely easier already. I know how much insulin I need to cut back on before going to play frisbee. I know how to cover the carbs in that cookie. I've found some things really aren't worth eating anymore and some things are. I've learned how to pretty much guesstimate the carbs in meals. I'm learning how to balance everything I used to do with the diabetes. It might take me a little while, but I can do this.

And so can you. We just need to think positively about this. It's not going to be the easiest of roads, but you and I can defy diabetes. It doesn't have to be something that dictates our lives.

So just don't give up.

Introduction: Adeline

Hey, I'm Adeline. I'm seventeen and a senior at my high school. 

I've had diabetes for a little over 8 years now, so I've gone through the motions at least a few times.

Anyways, I thought for my first post, I should have a little mini biography of my diagnosis and life since, just so that you all know where I'm coming from in my upcoming posts. 

I was nine and it was August 2004. I was becoming skinnier and skinnier, and I drank more than I ate. (We all know the symptoms). Eventually my parents brought me to my pediatrician; they did a few tests and we waited for a little while. My doctor finally entered the waiting room and I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. I really don't remember much about my diagnosis, I remember there was a good amount of tears (an appropriate reaction) and a few days in the hospital. I didn't really know any diabetics until more recently and I don't go to school with them, so meetings are scarce. I grew up around people who didn't really understand my illness. It was frustrating and hard at times, but it did push me to become more independent with my medication. I've gone through a few types of medication since my diagnosis. I started with NPH (which you won't know unless you've had diabetes for a little while) and now I take Lantus. I don't use a pump, although I plan to at least try one before going to college next year. 

So, that's basically my diabetic experience so far. 
I've also decided to include my current bloodsugar on each post. 

Blood Sugar: 220 (just ate dinner, so it's a tad off...)

an introduction to 'betes buddies

My name is Bailey. I'm sixteen years old, homeschooled, and I have type 1 diabetes.

         I was diagnosed exactly five months ago.
         Over the past five months I've realized that, while our illness is commonly called juvenile diabetes, there aren't really any support groups just for young people. I looked for information and was bombarded by different medical websites and answers to simple questions. There wasn't anything that showed that it was normal to be upset and hurt and wonder why. That's why I've started this blog. I want it to be a place that other kids with T1D can go to find encouragement or advice when they need it. It will be a place to share our struggles and triumphs and everything in between.
         I want you to know that, while diabetes is something we have, it's not what defines us. I want this to be a safe place for you to share your story and become involved. So come on in. Grab a low-carb snack and stay awhile. I'd love to have you with us. :)
         Hugs,
         Bailey