Photo-a-Day: Diagnosis

Photo-a-Day_diagnosisPregnant single mom gets diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in her 4th month.  Just like that. Needless to say, it was quite a ride but luckily for me, my natural go-to for dealing with rough situations has always been research, research, and more research.  We made it through and are both happy and healthy 7 years later (although some Drs. might think otherwise).


This post is one in a series for the National Diabetes Month of November.  Kerri from sixuntilme.com initiated the Photo-a-Day idea and prompts and lots of other diabetes bloggers have chosen to follow suite.

Photo-a-Day: Sweet

Thinking about “sweet” in terms of diabetes reminds me that I’ve actually never had much of a sweet tooth.  I’ve always preferred savory foods and never drank soda or juice, being more of a water, coffee, and wine girl.  Sure, I’ll have an occasional nice dessert or bake cookies once in a while but that’s it; at least that was it until I got diabetes.  In fact, irony abounds as I consume far more sweets and simple sugars with diabetes than I did without it.  Why?  Sigh…to treat lows.

Photo-a-Day_Sweet

When you’re on insulin to survive, blood sugar becomes a constant balancing act.  You can’t ever take insulin or sugar out of your body to balance the scales, so you’re left to find balance by only adding more.  It doesn’t matter if you’re not hungry or just ate a huge meal; if you’re blood sugar is low, you have to eat more.  That means in any given day I tack on calories via consumption of glucose tabs, juice boxes, or candies.  Sometimes, if I’m home I get to treat lows with actual fruit…but it doesn’t travel well and the other options have a smaller footprint for when you’re not actually hungry.  Life with diabetes: how I miss my more “sugar-free” days.


This post is one in a series for the National Diabetes Month of November.  Kerri from sixuntilme.com initiated the Photo-a-Day idea and prompts and lots of other diabetes bloggers have chosen to follow suite.

Diabetes Awareness Month: A Healthy Diabetic is Not an Oxymoron

When I saw the two words “chronic” and “healthy” next to each other as Kerri’s Diabetes Awareness Month photo-a-day prompts, I was immediately reminded of a stinging and insensitive comment made to me by an Endocrinologist I saw briefly a few years ago.  First let me say that I live in a rural area and Endo’s are few and far between.  When this particular Endo opened up shop only a mere 20 minutes away, I was pretty excited; however, during my first appointment with him I became markedly less so, due to his cavalier and condescending bedside manor.

Ben and I finishing a 5K.

Ben and I finishing a 5K.

As I was introducing myself and describing my general diabetes maintenance plan and lifestyle, I said I considered myself to be a healthy person.  The Doctor  started chuckling to himself.  When I uncomfortably asked what was funny he said “You can’t be healthy and a diabetic.  It’s an oxymoron.”  Wow!  And Huh!?  What a jerk, right!?  In general, I’m the kind of person that doesn’t offend easily but his comment and attitude really pushed all the right (or wrong!) buttons.

We use the word “health” all the time in daily conversation but what is it’s actual definition?  I once wrote an entire paper on this topic for a Health Education class and according to The World Health Organization:WHO Health Definition

While, I’ve daydreamed about being able to educate this particular Endo, regrettably at the time I was too shocked and tongue-tied.  Thinking that he is probably still out there spreading his negative and intimidating mindset to other patients (particularly newly diagnosed or non-internet savvy patients) saddens me.  A positive attitude is not just important but paramount in living with a chronic condition.  Yes, diabetes is a hardship and yes maintaining a “healthy state” is harder with diabetes than without but it’s not even close to impossible.  For inspiration and support check out the You Can Do This Project.


This post is one in a series for the National Diabetes Month of November.  Kerri from sixuntilme.com initiated the Photo-a-Day idea and prompts and lots of other diabetes bloggers have chosen to follow suite.