Diabetes Musings

First they Bagged Fat. Then Sugar. Now Carbs.

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I’m going to go on a bit of a rant today. If you don’t agree with this, I completely respect that. We are all different and have different things that work and don’t work with our diabetes. This is only my humble opinion.

Years ago, the experts were bagging fat. So people stopped eating dairy and everyone hopped on the “low fat” bandwagon. Then people started developing osteoporosis and joint pains from a lack of calcium. People began to put on weight and we discovered that the fat in low fat products was replaced with sugar (thanks, That Sugar Film). So although they’ve done a complete backflip on fat, something else has to replace it in the firing line, right?

Carbs. Yes, now it seems to be the carbohydrates coming under attack. The biggest indicator of this was the changes made to the Food Pyramid last week (click here to read more). Foods like breads, cereals and pastas were demoted to the ‘moderate’ section of the pyramid, despite previously being deemed healthy.

And to a lesser degree, Fruit. Now I have to hear things like “don’t eat more than 2 pieces of fruit per day” on the news. And why? Because apparently fruit has too much sugar in it. Natural sugar, no less.

And while I’m at it, all those caveman style diets – tell me, how long did the caveman actually used to live back in those days?

And all these allergies we seem to have today – I reckon half the problem is children not being exposed to enough of a variety in their diet.

And the liquid diets – please tell me, how do you not go hungry?

My point being, the experts can never seem to get it right. And I’m sick of being told what I can and can’t eat. Believe me, in a few years they’ll be telling us to eat junk food!

Yes, I am conscious of the sugar, fat and carbohydrate content when making my food choices. But I’ve never tried to cut any of them out completely. And for me, its not realistic. I know myself. I might be able to do it for a few days, maybe a week. And then I’ll just end up falling off of the wagon and binge eating again.

So, you want to know what’s my secret? Everything in moderation. Good knowledge of the foods I eat and their response on my blood sugar levels. Knowing how to respond with insulin. Having a treat every once in a while. Enjoying that restaurant meal. And trying my very best to eat healthy for the rest of the time.

Because if there’s one thing that diabetes will not stop me from doing, its enjoying my food.

Bolussing For My Birthday

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On Friday I celebrated my birthday. For most of you that would mean birthday cake, a delicious dinner, alcohol and lots of tempting treats. I, however, have type 1 diabetes. And for me, those material things just aren’t important. I like to look at the bigger picture. Having good blood sugar levels. Good control of my diabetes.

I woke up with a blood sugar level of 5.0 and it stayed in that range for much of the day. And I’m very proud of that. For breakfast I enjoyed a slice of toast and an unsweetened coffee. For lunch it was a delicious green salad and a bottle of water. At dinner there wasn’t a drop of alcohol on the table. And to top it all off, a delicious sugar free cake.

Pffft! Like diabetes will ever stop me from enjoying a real birthday.

For morning tea it was Coffees, Peanut Butter Tim Tams and chocolate covered Profiteroles. It was Red Rooster and Boost Juice for lunch. And I had dinner made to order (thanks Mum!) of Pasta Bake and Black Forrest Cake.

Can’t really complain about the presents either (and no, I’m not 21!).

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A jar of Byron Bay Cookies that I’ve been eyeing longingly for months, some unlucky scratchies and a brand new Sony DRX-100 digital camera. I really can’t sing this camera’s praises enough – it took me 5 shots to get the perfect snap instead of the usual 50!

Even though this past year has seemed a little slow moving, I’ve got a lot to be proud of. I’ve finally started a blog, something I wanted to do for years. And in the process I ignited a whole new passion for diabetes that I never knew was there. I work with a great group of people who are like a second family to me. I have my actual family who always believe in me and support me, even through the times that I don’t believe in myself. And I’ve successfully navigated my way through another year with type 1 diabetes. That deserves a gold medal in itself!

Diabetes is a job that employs me 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year. There is no annual leave, no sick days and I can’t leave it on the desk at 5 o’clock and go home. So I think I’m damn well entitled to one day where I can just have a “rest” from it all. And I bolussed. And bolussed. And bolussed.

Where’s the Appreciation for Goodwill?

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I was chilling out on a warm Friday afternoon back in January after a long day at work. I think I even had a beer in my hand that day, something I don’t often do. The phone rang, and being home alone meant I had to drag myself off the couch to get up and answer it.

I’m not really one with much patience for charities/market researchers/telemarketers. Then again, who is? But the woman on the other end of this phone call asked me how my day was. It was so unusually nice. So polite. She then asked me if I knew anything about kidney disease. And I couldn’t help but open up to her. I told her I was a diabetic, and that kidney disease was a possible complication from having diabetes.

She then proceeded to tell me a touching story about sick children on dialysis and how this charity was raising money for a bus to make the dialysis more accessible to these children from home. Well, from memory anyway – don’t quote me on it. She told me that they were urgently needing to raise something like $17,000 in order to help these sick kids.  I was really touched. It really resonated with me. That could be me one day. Touch wood, I hope not. But there is a possibility that one day, I might be the one sitting in that chair on dialaysis. I might be the one wishing for the support to make dialaysis easier.

I agreed to buy a raffle ticket. She told me that I had to call her back on a special hotline for the competition. I could have chosen not to call her back. Taken the easy way out. But, being the honest person that I am, I made the call. And she was ever grateful. She thanked me and wished me well, telling me to take care of myself so that she won’t see me come in for dialaysis. And I felt so warm and fuzzy inside. It was one of the best charitable things I could have done.

And then a few days later, my Mum told me about a phone call she received from the Kidney charity. Asking for a donation. Again. I had given them a donation. I was happy to do it. And yet they couldn’t even do the decent thing and cross my name off of the register. I felt as though I had been taken advantage of. That that one good deed went unacknowledged.

Which brings me to a few nights ago. I will emphasise that this was a mere FOUR months later. I was sitting at the dinner table as the phone rang. I got up to answer it, and it was none other than the Kidney charity. Asking for a donation. Again. Telling me that same sad story. Again.

I told the woman on the phone how I felt. I had given a donation, which I was happy to do at the time. And yet I felt as though I were being taken advantage of. They held onto my details (as most charities do) to keep calling me, to keep marketing to me. To keep making me feel guilty and asking for donations.

She told me absolutely not. She said they made absolutely no profit and receive no government support. She told me that they were absolutely grateful for my support last time. But this time around, I didn’t believe it. They’d used a good deed that made me feel good as a way to guilt me again. And again. And again. It just never seems to be enough with charities. So I think that next time, I will politely say no.

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.