Peer Support

Review: Yoga For Diabetes By Rachel Zinman

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I recently had the pleasure of reconnecting with fellow diabetes blogger, yoga instructor, friend, and now author Rachel Zinman in Sydney this May.

Rachel and I first connected back in 2015 during our first Diabetes Blog Week, and I’ve since ended up with a super fan that I can’t seem to get rid of! Despite the two of us having completely different backgrounds, Rachel is one of those people who is so easy to get along with. She is so warm, enthusiastic and really takes everything in around her.

Rachel has been a massive source of support, encouragement and inspiration in my blogging and advocacy efforts. She comes across exactly as I imagined her online, which I think is a true testament to her character.

I’ve been so inspired watching Rachel’s efforts in getting her book, Yoga for Diabetes: How to Manage Your Health With Yoga and Ayurveda, off the ground. After a successful crowdfunding campaign, Rachel eventually got the attention of a publisher and has since been putting her energy into a book tour across the US over the Summer.

Since returning to Australia earlier this year, Rachel has been touring the East Coast teaching Yoga and launching Yoga for Diabetes. After asking where the best place was for me to buy the book, Rachel produced one for me from the back seat of her car.

Rachel opens the book with her own story, talking about the long hours spent in New York learning about and teaching Yoga under a mentor. After experiencing the horror of 9/11, Rachel moved back home to Byron Bay, Australia with her young family. As a health conscious person, Rachel was in disbelief upon learning that a routine blood test showed a slightly elevated hba1c at the age of 42. With a slower onset of type 1 diabetes (LADA), Rachel spent many years trying to cure herself with natural remedies before finally accepting her diagnosis and taking insulin.

The book has definitely been written in the spirit of inspiring beginners like myself that Yoga could be for me. Rachel delves into the concept of Ayurveda, which is an ancient ‘science of life.’ She talks us through the three doshas – Vata, Pitta and Kapha – which are elements that combine in our bodies in varying amounts.

Exploring the characteristics of each of these three doshas was pivotal in connecting me to the concept of Yoga. I could really relate to qualities of a Vata Dosha such as being enthusiastic, full of ideas, unnecessarily overwhelmed and thin (I already hear that more than enough!). To a lesser degree, I could also relate to Pitta qualities such as being very focussed and hardworking, while also feeling occasional frustration and burnout.

Knowing what dosha, or combination of dosha you are, is pivotal in identifying the kind of Yoga practice best suited to you. There’s a questionnaire later in the book that will give you an answer, followed by many beautifully illustrated sequences customised to your Dosha.

The book moves onto the mind, as Rachel explains that Yoga can help us to become more aware of our thoughts and get us out of our habitual need to identify with them. Especially when it comes to the thoughts about our condition, Yoga can help us to feel content, relaxed and not thinking about diabetes for a moment.

The breathing and meditation exercises illustrated in the following two chapters gave me a good idea of what Rachel was talking about in regard to the mind. Getting on the ground and practicing some of the breathing exercises left me feeling really relaxed, focussing purely on things like feeling breath moving from my chest to my belly.

So what can Yoga offer those of us living with diabetes? In Rachel’s own words:

“A simple break from the intensity of all that the body throws at us.”

“Practices, lifestyle changes and systems of thought that enable me to face this condition each and every day with a positive outlook.”

“A great friend and companion that will hold your hand through all of the ups and downs that you are bound to experience.”

Over the course of this year, self care has become a pretty big priority for me to avoid burning out (more on that soon). Knowing absolutely nothing about Yoga, I guess I was most intrigued as to whether this book might help me to find a bit more mindfulness in my life. While I don’t think I’ll become a devoted yogi like Rachel, I have found another awesome self care tool to help put my mind at ease, particularly during these short Winter days when I don’t get outdoors as often as I’d like.

Yoga for Diabetes: How to Manage Your Health With Yoga and Ayurveda is now available on Amazon.

You can also follow Rachel’s book touring adventures on Facebook, Instagram and her blog.

Diabetes Blogging 101.

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When I started writing here three and a half years ago, it was honestly more of a creative outlet to flex my Marketing and PR muscles. Diabetes sounded like something that I should write about, but I never, ever imagined that actual people with diabetes would be reading my blog.

Today, I think it’s fair to say that my blog has become a lot more than just a blog. I may or may not be classified as a diabetes social media junkie, an oversharer, a freelance writer, speaker, committee member, social networker, an advocate, a diabetes PR service or even a sellout to big pharma!

The diabetes community, both online and offline, has been invaluable to me. I am in a place with my own diabetes that I never imagined possible. I honestly owe it to every single individual that I’ve ever connected with, and every single piece of information I’ve ever been given. I wouldn’t trade being a part of the diabetes community for anything in the world (except maybe, a working pancreas…)

But at the same time, I get the impression that blogs are sometimes seen as merely something ‘nice’ to do. Or that a blogger is often pictured sitting in the comfort of their own home on a Monday morning, typing out a fresh post and then going about their leisurely day.

Blogging is a fairly big investment in the subject area you’re writing about and the cause you’re advocating for. Keeping on top of all of the news, developments, tools and technologies forms a pretty big part of my life. And hey, it also keeps me pretty motivated in wanting to better manage my own diabetes. I do not have a technical or scientific background. Yet as I hear myself talking enthusiastically to others, I realise just how much I have immersed myself into a very technical and scientific world.

There’s a pretty big investment of my own time. Whether it be writing my blog, taking part in advocacy work, responding to e-mails, networking or embarking on diabetes travel, it’s all done in my own time. Evenings. Weekends. Sometimes out of my hard earned annual leave. Often at relatively short notice for the responsibilities and full time job I’m leaving behind that pays for the pancreas that doesn’t work properly.

There’s also a pretty big responsibility in advocacy. When companies choose to speak to people with diabetes, I believe that’s a good thing. While some might see it as accepting tokens from ‘big pharma,’ I see it as a responsibility to tell them what’s important to people with diabetes. While trying to be mindful of my privilege.

I’d also be lying if I said that I didn’t feel a sense of obligation to the community that has given me so much. I know full well that I am a highly privileged person, and that I don’t represent all people with diabetes out there in the world. A mere four years ago, I was in a relatively isolated place with diabetes. I guess a big part of my ‘why’ is to help other people to discover the power of peer support and being engaged in the diabetes world.

For me, the biggest reward that has come from diabetes blogging is all of the amazing people I have met. My tribe of people who have diabetes feel like somewhat of a close knit family. I often arrive home after some amazing conversations with a cup that is overflowing and a newfound motivation.

Diabetes has made my world a lot smaller, and being part of this community always makes me feel that I am a part of something much, much bigger.

One of the occasional perks of diabetes travel…

Eight.

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It’s hard to remember a life that didn’t revolve around constant pricks of the finger. Days where I could eat whatever I wanted without thinking about the carb counts and insulin injections are all but a distant memory. Simply being able to do whatever I wanted without thinking about the impact on my blood sugar. Or not feeling so “different” or isolated from the people around me because of the invisible and complex nature of my condition.

I spent my eighth diaversary listening to fellow Perth T1D Neil McLagan talk about his recent solo bike ride from Perth to Sydney with a few of my fellow Young Adult Diabetes Committee members. Apart from seeing Neil’s name and his cause (the Telethon Type 1 Diabetes Family Centre) pop up on social media a few times, I knew nothing about him. Admittedly, I just thought of him as ‘an athlete’ – something I would not even come close to qualifying as.

As we introduced ourselves, it was incredible to hear how many similarities we actually shared. From being diagnosed at the same age, to finding connection with others online and feelings of not being in a great place for quite some time. But the one thing that resonated most with me was the significance of finally meeting another person with type 1 several years after diagnosis.

Admittedly, meeting other people with diabetes is a daunting step, and something I would not have been willing to do all those years ago. But if I had to choose one thing that has been most beneficial for me in eight years of living with diabetes, it would have to be my peers.

Twitter. Facebook. The OzDOC community. My fellow Aussie diabetes bloggers, who feel like distant family members every time I embrace them when we are brought together. The Young Adult Diabetes Committee and our thread of Facebook messages that are a goldmine of daily support and laughter.

My peers, both near and far, remind me that I am not alone in this and are what lift me up in my daily self management efforts.

As I listened to Neil recount his enthralling story of survival during his bike ride across Australia, I wasn’t even thinking about how he was managing his diabetes. Diabetes wasn’t the focus of his story, but rather something that just played along in the background.

After eight years of life with type 1 diabetes, I’ve realised that my condition is not something that I need to feel overly conscious of or burdened by.

Don’t get me wrong, managing diabetes is no easy feat.

But like Neil’s epic journey, type 1 diabetes has simply become something that plays out alongside me as I go about living my life.

You can check out more highlights from Neil’s journey on his Facebook page here.

Outside the Bubble.

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“Diabetes! Diabetes! This way!”

The lady behind the counter was shouting and gesturing wildly as I entered the rec centre for an evening on exercise and nutrition put together by my fellow Young Adult Diabetes Committee members.

The YADC came to life a year ago and has since grown into a vibrant community of young adults living with diabetes, who are predominantly type 1s. As I found myself explaining to someone in attendance that night, this group really came about to fulfil a need that was currently missing in the Perth community.

As I took a seat and the evening’s proceedings kicked off, I found myself mentally nodding as I heard concepts being explained by our guest speakers that I was all too familiar with.

I looked around the room, glancing at some of the other people with diabetes and their loved ones in attendance. I observed many of them listening attentively, taking in all of the information they were hearing or jotting it down in note form. My own two parents were sitting behind me, and I wondered how easy this information was for them to take in.

They know the concepts behind managing type 1 diabetes quite well. At home, I find myself talking a lot about some of the exciting developments I read about in the DOC, my advocacy activities and diabetes related travel.

However, I’ve always been very independent in the physical management of my condition. I don’t bother them with all the nitty gritty stuff, like trying to figure out the best time to bolus for a high fat high protein pub dinner when my blood sugar is x mmol.

The evening broke off into group sessions, where I found myself chatting with some of my fellow type 1s in the room. It was nice (but also saddening) to hear other experiences in public hospital diabetes care that mirrored mine, while there were also some inquisitive questions asked of the pumpers and CGM users.

I departed this event with a far greater insight from all of the different perspectives I had heard and observed in the room during the course of the evening, and all of the different motivations for attending.

During our committtee meetings, good ideas simply seem to pop among this very bright group of YADC members. I spend my spare time trawling social media, squealing with excitement over the latest device or venting my frustration over the latest coverage of diabetes in the media. I get to catch up with people in the industry and other diabetes bloggers when I’ve received opportunities to travel, who are people just like me.

This event, however, had finally brought me outside of the diabetes bubble that I so often find myself sitting in. I just need to figure out how I can spend some more time here.

Yesterday’s Incident.

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Over the weekend, an uncomfortable incident caught my attention in a closed diabetes Facebook group. A new member to this group introduced himself as a health coach, sharing a before and after graphic depicting drastic weight loss and an image of a book he was publishing. Apart from the brief mention of the words ‘T1D for 20 years,’ there was no real substance to his post and I seriously doubted that he actually did have a connection to diabetes.

While the moderators of this group were likely out enjoying their Sunday, the community in this Facebook group impressively called this behaviour out for what it was. This man was clearly soliciting his products and services, and many in the group made it clear to him that this kind of a post did not belong in a peer support group.

While many healthcare professionals are still skeptical of online communities replacing their fundamental role, I felt that yesterday’s incident was an impressive example of how peer support is clearly not a place for medical advice.

The Diabetes Online Community typically does a stellar job at self moderation, with the community fostering a culture where participants feel welcomed, encouraged and able to seek support from those who truly ‘get’ it. 

Sure, a big part of our involvement in peer support is asking questions and sharing experiences, but the majority of the community embraces the philosophy that ‘one size does not fit all’ and that ‘your diabetes may vary.’ The DOC does not belong to any one person, and I believe that the majority of the community truly embraces this.

In my experience, keeping these philosophies in mind has made my experience an overwhelmingly positive one. Sure, I have witnessed uglier corners of online communities, and for the most part it’s where participants fail to acknowledge perspectives that might not be aligned with theirs.

One of the best things that has come from participating in the DOC is hearing these diverse perspectives, that have opened my eyes to the reality that not everyone is in as privileged a position as I am.

As for this individual, I expect that he is likely no longer a part of this online peer support group. I, for one, am glad that the DOC has the best interests of each other at heart.