Five Things, Completely Unrelated to Diabetes

It’s the final day of the eighth annual Diabetes Blog Week. The idea is that bloggers sign up to write about a set topic each day for a week, and readers get a variety of perspectives on each topic. Here is today’s prompt:

Lets wrap up the week by sharing a little more about ourselves, beyond the chronic illness we or our loved ones live with. Share an interest, hobby, passion, something that is YOU.  If you want to explore how it relates to or helps with diabetes you can. Or let it be a part of you that is completely separate from diabetes, because there is more to life than just diabetes!

As a kid, I dreamed of being a teacher. The 12 weeks of school holidays and 3pm finishes seemed pretty tempting to 10 year old me. I also thought that I could do a much better job than some of the lousy teachers I had. But I had this fear that I would turn into one of those teachers who would be unable to control the class, and eventually settled on my second dream job: journalism. Although I was unsuccessful in finding a career in the Communications/Marketing field, I did end up writing my own diabetes blog.

I’m more of a TV show person than a movie one. I was a massive Lost fanatic back in the day. With all of these reboots and revivals popping up nowadays, I’m praying they will announce a complete do-over of the final season of Lost. Don’t even get me started on the ending in that Church! Also, if you try and talk to me about My Kitchen Rules or Married at First Sight, I’ll tell you they’re scripted. Because all reality TV is scripted. I like to unwind with a good TV series at the end of the day, particularly if diabetes has been playing rough.

Coming from an Italian family, food is EVERYTHING. And if you didn’t eat anything for lunch, you mustn’t be feeling well. Often the topic of conversation in my house is did Frank eat anything before he left this morning? I don’t often order Pasta in a restaurant, because I have the real deal at home. I’m a terrible sweet tooth, and go nuts for coffee, cannoli or a good cake. With a type 1 diagnosis, it’s been tough to overcome this food culture and be more mindful of my mouthfuls, but I feel I’ve found a happy balance.

I don’t like exercise. Growing up, I felt that there was too much focus on sports and winning. I was more of a nerd. But somehow, I ended up working in a warehouse doing manual labour. It has been a challenge to learn how exercise affects my blood sugar and adjust insulin accordingly. But I’m also grateful that my job keeps me active, and I have a good excuse not to go to the gym at the end of the day!

Back in the day, I was an avid reader. Harry Potter, A Series of Unfortunate Events, Famous Five, Alex Rider. Today I pick up a book and get laughed at, because I often struggle finish a book! But I do read a lot about diabetes online. I enjoy scrolling through my Twitter feed in the morning to see what the likes of Diabetes Mine and Diabetes Daily have been covering while I’ve been sleeping. I glance at my Feedly app through the day to see what other diabetes bloggers are writing about. I’ve read Think Like a Pancreas, Michael Moseley’s The Fast Diet and Sugar Surfing with great interest. I’m also very much looking forward to catching up on Diabetes Blog Week posts today and over the weekend.

Big thanks to Karen at Bittersweet Diabetes for hosting another Diabetes Blog Week. It’s been a pleasure to participate over the last three years, and connect with other d-bloggers from all over the world.

To read other posts related to today’s prompt, click here.

8 Comments

  1. Rick Phillips

    I will not likely finish mine until my Saturday your Sunday. I think you woudl have made a great teacher. you teach me when I read your blog.

  2. Well your passion for writing shows through in your blogs. I always enjoy reading what you have to say.
    I was creeped out by that show but I did watch it on Netflix when I had it. It certainly kept you wondering where the writers were going with it. I agree with Kelley – not a good last season or ending.
    You never know, teacher may yet be in your future.
    Blog on! 🙂

  3. I really didn’t like exercise in school-still don’t. I’m purely in it to feel better and live better. I actually bought the “I hate to exercise book for people with diabetes”. I’m so glad to have found a fellow exercise unenthusiast. ?

  4. It was fun to learn more about you… I too loved Lost, but never got to finish the last season, so I have no idea what happened. I have the season on blu-ray, I just need to get around to watching it!

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