Category Archives: Diabetes

30 Days With Diabetes: Tourists

Posted in Diabetes, Exercise, Food, Travel, Type 1 by

It’s draining enough for me to be around people all day, especially crowds of tourists. In addition to energy depleting, it’s also a strain on my blood sugar.

The stress and anxiety of the crowds can contribute to an increased blood sugar (above 120). The constant walking and limited food/water supply can lead to lower blood sugar levels (below 90).

It’s very tricky to navigate this “abnormal” routine. Considering the amount of walking and energy depletion, I usually play to the “high” side and adjust my insulin settings so I’m not getting as much insulin during this time frame to ensure my blood sugar doesn’t drop. I also don’t take as much insulin for food.

So, when my dad asks if I need to eat while touring the Natural History Museum at the Smithsonian, I say yes, not because my blood sugar is dropping (it’s actually been stable at 170 thanks to my proactive management style), but because I legitimately need the energy.

It’s nice to feel normal every once in awhile.

This post is part of my 30 Days With Diabetes series. 

30 Days With Diabetes: Cleaning

Posted in Diabetes, Exercise, Food, Type 1 by

1. I wake up.

2. I run some errands and spend the better of the day cleaning in prep for my dad’s first solo DC trip.

3. I don’t account for how much physical exertion cleaning requires and do not adjust my insulin settings.

4. My blood sugar starts dropping.

5. I eat a banana.

6. I clean some more.

7. My blood sugar severely drops (still have not adjusted insulin settings).

8. I drink Gatorade and eat some pretzels.

9. I turn off my insulin.

10. Blood sugar returns to normal.

Story of my life.

This post is part of my 30 Days With Diabetes series. 

30 Days With Diabetes: Dating, Dinner Parties and Lasagna

Posted in Diabetes, Food, Type 1 by

Once upon a time via text message…

Guy: What are you doing Saturday night?

Me: Nothing as of now

Guy: My friend is having people over. Would you like to come?

Me: Sure. Do I need to eat beforehand?

Guy: His girlfriend is going to make some food so no. They’re expecting us to eat there.

Me: Ok, I just have to be cognizant of my diabetes but I’m sure it will be fine. Is it a dinner party or just having people over?

Guy: He said “I’m having a party and my girlfriend is cooking a bunch of food”

Guy: I’ll inquire what kind. Continue reading →

30 Days With Diabetes: Eyesight

Posted in Diabetes, Type 1 by

Last night my grandma asked me if diabetes affects eyesight. Absolutely. Long-term high blood sugar levels can lead to cataracts, retinopathy and glaucoma. This is why it’s essential I visit an eye doctor every year (regardless of my actual eyesight problems). Additionally, when I experience severe low blood sugar, I sometimes get blurry vision (or in the case of a seizure black out completely).

I started wearing glasses when I was 15 and realized I couldn’t read the board from the back of the classroom. But when I was diagnosed with Type 1 at age 22, my vision took on a life of its own. For one week, I had perfect vision. But for the sake of not repeating myself, I wrote about the whole experience back in 2013 on this blog. Read about it here.  Continue reading →

30 Days With Diabetes: Know Your Worth

Posted in Diabetes, Mental Health, Personal, Type 1 by

A lesson I was reminded of today: no matter how certain environments or relationships may make you feel, know your worth.

When I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, it took me years to accept that I am worthy of this life – that even with a dysfunctional body, I have value. I felt like a burden to family, friends and society (important note: no one else saw me as a burden). For three years after I was diagnosed, I didn’t write about it.

I regret this. There is so much I now want to know about how I handled this new life, how I coped and how I ultimately felt about all of it. I have a few memories, but that is it. And I didn’t write about it because I didn’t want it to be worth it. What I failed to realize is that I was worth it. 

So no matter how someone makes you feel, know your worth and stick to it. You have value. Own it. Continue reading →

30 Days With Diabetes: Mental Health

Posted in Diabetes, Mental Health, Type 1 by

I’ll be honest. It’s been a rough week. I appreciate those of you who have stuck with this series – your feedback has been invaluable and such a positive light at the end of the tunnel.

And when it comes to managing an incurable chronic condition, mental health is so important to my physical well-being. I wouldn’t say I’ve been depressed this week, but I have been feeling depleted due to stress, anxiety and disappointment.

It can be hard to stay on top of my diabetes management when I’m feeling this way. And then there’s this underlying feeling that no matter what I do, things are not going to get better. I’m sure many people thought a cure was on the horizon when insulin came to market a little less than one hundred years ago.  Continue reading →

30 Days With Diabetes: The Beach

Posted in Diabetes, Medical Supplies, Travel, Type 1 by

The sun is my best friend in the midst of this new monsoon season in DC. But it’s more like a distant acquaintance with my insulin.

Heat aka long hours exposed to the sun can reduce the effectiveness of my insulin therefore impacting my blood sugar levels therefore impacting my overall quality of life.

Unfortunately, the pod that carries my insulin is usually exposed in a bathing suit. Today, it was under my left arm. Tomorrow, it could be on my stomach. Continue reading →

30 Days With Diabetes: Insulin Breakthrough

Posted in Diabetes, Medical Supplies, Type 1 by

Prior to this day 97 years ago, a future with a diabetes diagnosis looked pretty bleak.

As recently as 1920, doctors gave newly diagnosed diabetics mere weeks (or days) to live. Fortunate patients might break months, or, in rare cases, a year. But mostly, patients would enter diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and die soon after their diagnosis. (Beyond Type 1)

Even though I often tout the amazing advancements in diabetes management on this blog and advocate for access to those advancements, it’s nice on occasion to remember how far we’ve come and the transformation breakthroughs like insulin really provided for people like me. Continue reading →

30 Days With Diabetes: Basal Rate

Posted in Diabetes, Travel, Type 1 by

Managing Type 1 diabetes involves more than just giving myself an insulin injection before I eat. It’s a basal-bolus routine.

A basal-bolus routine involves taking a longer acting form of insulin to keep blood glucose levels stable through periods of fasting and separate injections of shorter acting insulin to prevent rises in blood glucose levels resulting from meals.

It gets more complicated. My basal rate – the amount of insulin I take in between meals – changes from week to week, day to day and hour to hour. This can depend on my schedule (weekend vs. weekday vs. traveling), hormones, exercise and even stress.

Here’s a breakdown of the basal rates I have preset within my personal diabetes manager (what I use to administer insulin via the pod attached to my skin). Continue reading →