Diabetes Musings

Diabetes Blog Week…One More Wrap

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Its been a really cold, wet and miserable weekend. Actually the perfect weather for rugging up, curling in front of the heater and reading d-Blog Week posts!

Anyway, I know that yesterday I said I was burnt out and dying for some much needed rest. But I’ve decided that I’m not yet done with d-Blog Week.

Yesterday I sorta did a wrap on my first Diabetes Blog Week experience. It really has been one of the most humbling and eye opening experiences to me as a fairly new blogger. On Twitter this week I have been sharing and retweeting some of my favourite posts, which made yesterday’s wrap a pretty easy task of highlighting the topics and linking back to the posts that resonated with me most.

But I really didn’t want to have to make the hard decision of singling out individual blogs. However, after seeing all the d-love being spread around thanks to the “Continuing Connections” prompt, I feel compelled to do so. These are three new blogs that I’ve discovered/connected with over the past week:

*drumroll…

Tamsin of Type 1 Diabeater:

Every day this week Tamsin and I have commented back and fourth on each other’s blogs. Although she usually beats me to number 4 place on the link list, leaving me to settle for number 5 (unforgiveable!) Tasmin, I really love the way your blog brings together your passion for adventure and travel with type 1 diabetes. I cannot believe you don’t eat carbs and have the hba1c level of a non diabetic person. You really are an inspiration. Please keep Tamsin in your thoughts as she is currently unwell, which you can read more about on her blog.

Pumplette of Understudy Pancreas:

Being diagnosed at 17, I really didn’t know a lot about diabetes in young children. I read a lot of inspiring stories of d-kids and d-families, however none struck a chord with me more than Pumplette, daughter to the author of Understudy Pancreas. And there’s more to her than her innocent face. She’s a JDRF Ambassador, one of the youngest members of the UK Youth Parliament and might one day be your local vet! If she can face diabetes with such determination at her age, we all can.

Ally of Very Light, No Sugar:

There’s just something about the way Ally balances her humor while also hitting the more serious notes to life with type 1 diabetes. I really laughed reading about her apartment that would qualify for a Diabetes edition of Hoarders, while I was also really touched by the recollection of her school days with diabetes. Ally, as you said to me earlier this week, I am so glad I have discovered your blog.

Honourable mention to Kelley of Below Seven – I think I’ve seen your comments on almost every blog post – including many of mine – that I’ve read this week. Thanks for bringing such enthusiasm to dBlog Week!

Also, just wanted to take this opportunity to say thanks for reading and for all the positive support in the last week – its been pretty overwhelming. Particularly to those of you who used me as your ‘Continuing Connection’ – I truly am humbled.

And finally, dBlog Week has also inspired me to add a proper Blogroll, which you can check out here. Enjoy!

I’ve written this post as a participant in Diabetes Blog Week 2015. Follow #dBlogWeek on Twitter for the latest from the event and participants.

Diabetes Blog Week…And That’s a Wrap!

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Shameless plug: If you like what I’ve had to say this week, you can find me on Twitter @FrankSita.

I must say that I’m pretty overwhelmed at the response to my first Diabetes Blog Week. I was pretty daunted at the prospect of writing 7 posts in 7 days, but was also up for the challenge. To stretch myself creatively. Over the past 7 days I’ve had very little sleep, instead being tempted to stay up way past my bedtime to read and comment on as many of the 100+ blog posts that my eyes will let me. Of course, it didn’t help that while you dBloggers in the UK and US were waking up and posting, I was yawning and fighting the urge to go to bed.

It really has been a fantastic experience for me, as a fairly new blogger. Its really connected me with the Diabetes Online Community, and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed reading and discovering many great blogs/bloggers that I never even knew existed! And even though this event has been running for 6 years, I really think Karen Graffeo of Bitter Sweet Diabetes deserves a massive thankyou. Thank you for all your hard work in organising the event and for allowing me to participate in this experience.

Last night as I was telling my parents about dBlogWeek at the dinner table, my Mum asked me what I had learned over the course of this week. Well, a lot actually…

Firstly, type 1 in young children. I was fortunate to be diagnosed at 17, but there are so many who are diagnosed as young children. I could not even imagine. I read some really touching youth stories (thanks Very Light No Sugar). Of d-parents who get up in the middle of the night to test their little one (thanks Diabetes Advocacy). Of d-kids who are taking control of their disease (thanks Understudy Pancreas). I admire you all.

Secondly, Pumps and Continuous Glucose Monitoring devices. I’m on Multiple Daily Injections, but I’ve read so many stories about people’s lives that have changed for the better thanks to pumping. You’ve definitely motivated me to go and find out more.

Thirdly, those of you who have been living with diabetes for a long time. It really made me realise how lucky I am that I live with diabetes in 2015. Like the fact that we never had Lantus (long acting insulin) to keep our BGLs stable overnight (thanks Test, Guess and Go). Like the fact that we weren’t able to check our Blood Sugar Levels at home back then. That insulin wasn’t always safe or readily available. And that diabetes was once a life sentence (thanks RADiabetes). Today, we have inspiring people like the Type 1 Diabeater who are travelling the world and having all sorts of incredible adventures. With Diabetes no less.

And then there were the funnies. I read a Pancreas Eulogy (thanks Just Normalash). There were posts mocking all those “diabetes cures” (thanks Running Without Sugar). And all those fad diets (thanks Carb Counting Kids). A hilarious timeline of what diabetes status updates would look like (thanks Lazy Pancreas). I was fascinated at how many people were hoarding diabetes supplies (I won’t single you out!). And there were memes.

Like this one (thanks Coffee and Insulin).

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And this one (thanks Grumpy Pumper).

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And this one (thanks One Sweet Cookie).

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Thanks to everyone who has participated in Diabetes Blog Week. I just love the way its really brought the Diabetes Online Community together in a positive way. Thanks for sharing all of your stories, your advice, for inspiring me and for making me laugh. I only wish I could have read them all! Thanks for reading and commenting and for all the positive feedback. If anything, I feel even more passionate about diabetes. I feel even more empowered to write and to advocate. To read more great blog posts and make more connections going forward.

But right now, I feel absolutely burnt out (which I never thought I’d say about blogging!). And I’m dying for a good night’s sleep. See you again next year.

I’ve written this post as a participant in Diabetes Blog Week 2015. Follow #dBlogWeek on Twitter for the latest on the event and its participants.

Chasing My Dreams

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There are two posts that I’m particularly proud of on this blog. The first is my diagnosis story, “Happy 5 Years (With Diabetes).” And I poured all of my diabetes related frustrations into the second one, “The Things I Don’t Tell You About My Diabetes.”

These would by far be my favourite posts on this blog because they are so raw, so real. They are definitely worth a read if I may say so myself! As I was writing those two posts and reliving the memories in my head, the thoughts pretty much flowed straight from my mind onto the computer screen. Its the closest you’ll get to being right inside my mind, or the mind of a diabetic person.

Diabetes is such a complex disease to live with. There are so many different lifestyle factors that influence it. Like what I eat. What I drink. My physical activity (or lack thereof). Emotions. Stress. Illness. Wellness. My Blood Sugar Level. My Insulin dose. My routine. My sleeping habits. My life. And, after 5 years of living with this bloody disease, I felt I had a lot to offer. I had learned so much, experienced so much, that I might have something unique to offer through a blog.

I’ve always been fascinated by computing, technology and social media. I also love being creative. And writing. Writing is my passion. Its something I became even more passionate about after completing a degree in Marketing and Communications at uni. And I figured that a blog would be a good testament to a prospective employer. Particularly a good one.

Truth is, I spent a lot of time over thinking the concept of blogging. What would I name it? What would I write about? How often would I post? How much time would I spend on it? What blog design would I pick? How would I promote myself? How would I make it successful? Did I choose the right name? Should I change the design? Should I edit that post I drafted? It really drove me crazy. And I hate to admit it, but I probably wasted several months obsessing over something that didn’t even exist yet.

And then one day I just started writing. The more I wrote and the more I took an interest in the Diabetes Online Community (DOC), the easier it was for the ideas to come to me. Twitter is a fantastic tool for this. For every diabetes tweet you send out and every diabetes account you follow, you will probably find two more interesting articles, blog posts, people to follow and groups to join. It truly is amazing, and I daresay I have become even more passionate about diabetes since joining the blogosphere and DOC. Ironically, I didn’t even think there was much of a Diabetes Online Community, let alone diabetes blogs, when I started all of this! How wrong was I?

The response to Diabetes Blog Week has been overwhelming and has given me a lot of confidence in my blog. And reading other dBlogs has given me a lot of inspiration for my own diabetes management and a lot of perspective for my blog going forward. I only wish I had time to read all 100 of them!

My dream would be to one day turn this blog into a career. To be a diabetes advocate. Be paid to write. Sure, its hard work. Sure, it will take time. Sure, its not realistic. I’m just chasing a dream. But I’d much rather try and fail than fail to try.

I wrote this post as a participant in Diabetes Blog Week 2015. Follow #dBlogWeek on Twitter for the latest updates on the event and participants.

The Things I Don’t Tell You About My Diabetes

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Inspiration has struck me at bedtime on this Monday night at the end of a long weekend, after mulling over something to write for much of the day. And I know I won’t be able to get to sleep until I’ve put pen to paper. Or, in this case, fingers to keyboard.

Yesterday on the Coffee and Insulin blog, author Sarah shared her thoughts on diabetes before her diagnosis at age 13 – which was basically vague, unsubstantial ideas about a disease she didn’t need to know about at the time. And over the past week, I’ve been watching Twitter explode with #IWishPeopleKnewThatDiabetes tweets. Inspired by Kelly of the Diabetesaliciousness blog, people have been sharing their thoughts using the hashtag to raise diabetes awareness.

And it got me to thinking about my own very complex diabetic life. There are so many aspects of my daily life that those around me would have absolutely no idea about. Of course most people around me know that I check my blood sugar levels and inject myself with insulin. But what about all those other invisible things that nobody ever sees, the things I choose to keep to myself.

Thoughts. Its been almost five years since I’ve been able go to bed without being plagued with worrying thoughts. What will my blood sugar level be in an hours time? In two hours? Four hours? Tomorrow morning? Do I still have active insulin in my system from dinner? How much more am I likely to drop? Will I go hypo? Or will my blood sugar rise later on because of the fatty food I had earlier?

Hypos. Being woken up at 2am drenched in sweat and shaking like mad. The frustration of having to open my eyes and get up from my comfy position under the covers. I know I’m hypo, but I’ll still reach for my meter just to be sure. Yep. I’ll reach for the bag of jellybeans sitting beside my bed, begrudgingly shoving them into my mouth. I hate them. The dry, sugary taste that will stick to my tongue for hours and leave my throat dry. I’ll be dying for a drink by the time I wake up. And then I’ll have to fall asleep all over again.

Hypers. Waking up in the morning thinking of one number while my meter is showing something ridiculous like 20. I’m so furious, so frustrated at the thought of my blood sugar being that high for that long. Then cue the scary thoughts of diabetes complications and damage I’ve done to my body. Desperate to being my blood sugars down ASAP, I’ll dial up a big dose of insulin. Only to find a few hours later that I’ve overcorrected and am hypo instead.

And then there’s those public situations. Like Work. Having to refuse that spontaneous treat that my workmate has brought in to share, and then being asked why not. Or accepting it and then racing back to the bathroom for a quick jab of insulin while nobody is around. And then waiting for that private moment to test my blood sugar level away from prying eyes. I’m doing myself a favour. Saving myself from that conversation where I’m asked if I can’t eat sugar and told stories about that friend or relative who has diabetes too.

But I take it all in my stride. I don’t complain to my family. I don’t tell those well meaning conversationalists to shut up. I just deal with it. And most of the time, I dont even stop to actually think about what I’m doing. Its just something I have to do. Its a part of being me.

Well, its 11.52pm and I really should go to sleep. If you do want to hear more about me in real time, you can find me on Twitter @FrankSita. I’m always keen to connect with fellow people with diabetes, and bloggers out there. Cheers.

Vitamin D and Diabetes

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As the days are getting shorter and the temperature outside is dropping, I find myself making more of a conscious effort to spend some quality time in the sunshine.

After having a blood test last September, my doctor told me that I was Vitamin D deficient. So deficient that he suggested I start taking a supplement straight away. At first I was really suprised at the news, especially as I had spent some dedicated time out in the sunshine. However, as I began to research the topic, I found some obvious yet mind shattering realisations.

But first –  what exactly is Vitamin D? Its a “vitamin” that you get from sunlight exposure (or UV radiation, to be precise) on the skin and is responsible for stong bones, muscles and overall health.

During Winter the strength of the sun’s UV radiation is much lower, meaning we need more of it to produce sufficient amounts of Vitamin D. During Summer, in comparison, we would get sufficient Vitamin D from routine activities such as walking out to the car. Winter weather brings with it fewer sunlight hours during the day, and unconsciously deters us from spending prolonged time outdoors. The days are also shorter, with many of us waking up and coming home from work in the dark.

Benefits of Vitamin D for Diabetics

In addition to stong bones and muscles, here are some other benefits of Vitamin D in relation to Diabetes, according to diabetes.co.uk.

  • Stronger immune system. Our bodies are better equipped to fight off any illnesses, injuries and infections, and blood sugar levels are less likely to go out of control from being unwell.
  • Improved Insulin Sensitivity for Type 2 Diabetics. Type 2 Diabetics can enjoy better blood sugar levels and reduced reliance on diabetes medication and insulin, when combined with healthy lifestyle changes.
  • Mental Wellness and Positivity. Sunlight makes us happy! A positive mindset gives Diabetics more motivation to maintain stable blood sugar levels and reduces the risk of developing depression.
  • Weight Loss. Vitamin D helps reduce parathyroid levels, which can aid weight loss. Weight loss can lead to greater insulin sensitivity in Type 2 Diabetics, and improved blood glucose control.
  • Increased Satiety. Vitamin D increases the hormone leptin in the body, which triggers the feeling of fullness and reduced hunger. You’ll be less tempted to snack and send your blood sugar levels out of control when you’re feeling satisfied!

Tips for Boosting Vitamin D intake during Winter

Although my doctor proposed taking a supplement, I wanted to first try and boost my Vitamin D intake naturally. The best source of Vitamin D exposure is, after all, sunlight exposure. Living in Australia, there’s really no excuse not to do it naturally. Even during Winter we still have significant hours of daylight compared to some of our counterparts in the northern hemisphere. Here are my personal tips for boosting Vitamin D during those cooler months.

  • Sit out in the sunshine. I drag my chair out into the sunshine while I have my afternoon cup of tea after work. You could also read a book, play with your smartphone or just be with your thoughts.
  • Don’t cover up. Wear light clothing such as a T-Shirt and Shorts and make sure your skin is exposed.
  • Don’t wear sunscreen. Sunscreen blocks the absorbtion of UV radiation on the skin.
  • Avoid prolonged periods in the sun. Prolonged UV radiation can still cause sunburn and skin cancers. The trick is finding some middle ground.
  • 2-3 hours of Winter sunlight exposure spread across the week is recommended by Better Health Channel Victoria, and just a few minutes per day during summer when UV radiation is stronger.

Definitely something to think about as we head into the cooler months of the year. Make the most of the sunshine this ANZAC Day long weekend!