Diabetes

Learning to Fuel My Body with Type 1 Diabetes.

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Trying to stick to a diet of 8,000 kilojoules a day is hard work.

I know that when I do eat enough to sufficiently fuel my very active body, I don’t feel lousy, exhale air or yawn half as often as I’m used to. I have more energy, focus and enthusiasm to pour into my day. In fact, I’m so focussed on getting those kilojoules into my body that I don’t think think about chocolate or even coffee half as often (no, I am not kidding).

I also know that this 8,000 kilojoules a day business is hard work (have I said that already?). Organising meals and snacks takes time out of my day, even though I am more than capable in the kitchen. It’s been very easy for me to slip back into my old habits of existing on rabbit food until dinner time when I haven’t organised myself in the mornings.

I embarked on this new eating-to-fuel-my-body kick at the end of February, rebounded for some part of March after I got sick and the Cadbury Choc Chip Hot Cross Buns kicked in, and am only just getting back on track in the past week or so.

I first learned about eating to meet my daily energy needs after reading The CSIRO Total Wellbeing Diet and The CSIRO Low Carb Diet last year. Despite it all making perfect sense, putting kilojoule counting into practice on top of carb counting, checking blood sugars and all of those other diabetes tasks felt extremely overwhelming. Thankfully, the smartphone app My Fitness Pal made tracking my kilojoule intake really easy.

The biggest change since I’ve began eating more is increased insulin sensitivity. Which I guess is a good thing, right? It started with unusually easy to manage blood sugars in the evenings after dinner. I would then wake up low during the night, have a glucose tab or two, only to wake up low again a few hours later. Fun times, right?

I’ve dropped my basal rates by about 10% overall, and so far, so good. My biggest challenge is continuing to eat this way so that I can maintain the same sensitivity to insulin.

I’m not really focussed on skewing a particular way with protein, fat or carbohydrate, but do find myself eating more protein than I was before. At the moment I’m honestly just focussing on eating enough, eating well and getting a balance of everything in there.

I find myself eating more significant meals for breakfast and lunch, rather than a slice of toast or a toasted ham and cheese sandwich. Like this amazing Sunday roast of pistachio stuffed chicken breast wrapped in prosciutto that has doubled as Monday lunch.

I embarked on this way of eating for more physical reasons, but the benefits seem to have extended into my diabetes as well.

I have more energy and focus in the short term, and I’m hoping that this will only replicate further in the long run (if I can keep it up!). The increased insulin sensitivity is making blood sugar levels much easier to manage. In the past I’d correct stubborn highs with little or no effect, and override the suggested correction on my pump with a larger bolus. Now, a correction seems far more effective than before.

I get that balancing food and blood sugar levels is no easy feat, but I don’t think I ever truly appreciated just why it is so important to eat.

Drawing Parallels to ‘The Good Doctor.’

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Inbetween heat packs, Nurofen capsules, bed rest, a visit to my doctor and checking my blood sugar levels, I’ve spent the better part of a few sick days at home binging on The Good Doctor this week.

The series revolves around Dr Shaun Murphy, a surgical resident at San Jose St. Bonaventure hospital. Shaun isn’t any ordinary doctor. Shaun has autism, coupled with savant syndrome which allows him to see and connect the finer details that others don’t.

Shaun is different to those around him. He is often misunderstood by others. Those around him are often doubting his intelligence and his capabilities. In a way, Shaun’s struggles are not that different to someone who has diabetes.

There are definitely days where I feel misunderstood by those around me. I have my moments where I feel as though I’m answering the same questions that the same people have asked me before. I often wonder whether employers see diabetes work on my resume and doubt my ability to fulfil the advertised role (yes I can). I often wonder whether those around me see diabetes as a weakness (hint: it’s not).

I have superior intelligence when it comes to health, physical activity, nutrition and diabetes management, simply because I deal with these on a daily basis. I’d even go as far as to say that my intelligence is superior to some of the diabetes organisations and healthcare professionals that I deal with because of my own very valuable lived experience.

Shaun often can’t help but speak his mind in the series, without any regard for those around him or their feelings. This is the one distinction that I can draw against him and autism. I don’t have to be brutally honest when I am dealing with diabetes around others. I have a filter, and I can use it to spare other people’s feelings, even when they upset or frustrate me. If I don’t feel like explaining diabetes in order to explain myself, I don’t have to.

Dr Shaun Murphy is such a damn relatable character. It’s kind of refreshing to see someone so different on television. Someone who shares in some of the struggles many people with disabilities and chronic conditions do. Watching Shaun overcome some of those hurdles, often without even realising, is so uplifting to see.

After spending the last couple of weeks ripping the authenticity of Married at First Sight to pieces, The Good Doctor is by far one of the most genuine pieces of television I’ve seen in a long time. A perfect binge for the upcoming Easter break.

Feeling Tired With Type 1 Diabetes

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The final stretch of last year was a pretty challenging time for me, physically.

I felt tired. All. The. Damn. Time.

I would often find myself crawling into bed at the end of the day, feeling utterly exhausted. I was no longer waking up to my 1am alarms, and my blood sugars definitely suffered for it. I would wake up after a solid eight hours of sleep feeling bleary eyed, wanting nothing more than to close my eyes and go back to sleep again.

I honestly could not find an explanation for the way that I was feeling. Although the management of my blood sugar levels had slipped a little since achieving a personal best hba1c in July, my ability to manage them was still far better than they had ever been in my pre-pumping era. My bloodwork from July was also really good, and I had seen my endo in August.

I probably should have made an appointment with my GP, but I honestly didn’t feel that he would have been very helpful to me.

I felt more burdened than I had felt in a long time. in fact, I’d go as far as to say I felt equally or more burdened than I did during my start on insulin pump therapy. These feelings affected my work, my attitude around others and my overall quality of life. Part of me was ready to accept that these symptoms were simply a tradeoff of living with a demanding chronic condition like diabetes.

Living with type 1 diabetes creates somewhat of a complex relationship with food. We need food to fuel our bodies, but at the same time food spikes our blood sugar levels – and we want to avoid out of range glucose levels at all costs.

What’s the best nutrition advice for a person with diabetes? From my experience, It depends on what you’re reading and who you’re talking to. While I absolutely love my diabetes community, the overwhelming messages that seep into my brain is to avoid this food group or cut back on that one that and stop the spikes from happening.

I don’t want to single out any particular way of eating, but diabetes has distorted my relationship with food without me even realising.

The average male needs to consume about 8,000 kilojoules of energy per day to fuel his body so that it can function properly and match energy expended through activity. I don’t think I was even coming close to that. Not to mention having an active job where I’m on my feet all day expending even more energy by the minute.

I honestly cannot ever recall being taught to eat to fuel my body and meet my daily energy needs – from healthcare professionals and diabetes websites alike. Or perhaps I wasn’t listening carefully enough.

The past month or so has been a bit of a learning curve for me. Let me just say that it is pretty challenging to eat 8,000 kilojoules of quality food every day, and I have slacked a little at keeping tabs on this at times.

Of course, as with anything you make a major change to in life, diabetes management also demands attention and there have been a few tweaks to basal rates. I’ll share more specifics in time. 

But I’m sitting here in the sunshine typing this today, feeling far better than I have in quite some time.

Type 1 Writes Diabetes Christmas Gift Guide III

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It’s hard to believe we are a mere two weeks out from Christmas! Where on Earth has this year gone? While I have absolutely no idea what I would like to request for Christmas in my typical indecisive fashion, here are a few of the things that have crossed my radar this year.

Think Like a Pancreas

Think Like a Pancreas is by far the best diabetes book that I’ve ever read. Written by Certified Diabetes Educator and longtime type 1 Gary Scheiner, the book is for anyone with diabetes who uses insulin. Starting with the very basics of what insulin does, the book goes on to provide the reader with a practical approach to getting the most out of insulin therapy. Great for both the person with diabetes and their loved one. Full review here!

Pump Peelz

It might sound shallow, but boredom of looking at the same device over and over each day is real. More so in the case of a device that’s attached to you 24/7. Pump Peelz are custom stickers designed to brighten your insulin pump, CGM receiver and selected blood glucose meters. I must admit to having never personally used these, but I sure do appreciate the value of a good sticker!

AccuChek Guide Blood Glucose Meter

The AccuChek Guide is hands down the best blood glucose meter I’ve ever used. It’s a bluetooth enabled meter, meaning that blood glucose readings are instantly transferred to the Connect app on your smartphone for instant review. Strips come in spill-proof containers, you have a backlight for testing in the dark, and there’s an eject button to send your used test strip in the direction of the bin. While the accompanying FastClix lancing device isn’t exactly ‘painless,’ it’s far superior to any others. Definitely worth asking your diabetes educator for one next time you’re in clinic. Blog to come in the New Year…

Rockadex Adhesive Patches

Looking for some sticky stuff to keep your diabetes devices stuck? I can’t speak highly enough of Rockadex adhesive patches, which are designed to keep Dexcom, Medtronic and FreeStyle Libre sensors stuck. Rockadex was started by the mother of a type 1 child here in Perth, with the primary goal of funding her daughter’s CGM costs. Today, her business has distributors all over the world!

Shop Casualty Girl Bags

Ever get sick of having to overfill your pockets and deliberate over what you need to bring with you every time you leave the house? Having a travel case handy with all of your essentials ready to go makes life so much easier each time I leave the house. These bags by Shop Casualty Girl are proving to be quite a hit among many of my diabetes friends.

Nike Air Max Shoes

Finally, my Nike Air Max Shoes are extremely comfy and look good with just about anything. Well worth the investment if you find yourself trekking around this Festive Season.

Merry Christmas, ya filthy animals. And a Happy New Year.

Navigating My Way Through a Food Heavy Culture

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There’s a new column up over at Diabetes Daily, all about the challenges of learning to manage diabetes among a very food heavy culture.

“Growing up in an Italian family, there has always been a big emphasis on food.

Our cupboards, fridges and freezers at home are always well stocked. Every Friday, I receive a reminder from Mum and Dad to add whatever I want to the weekly shopping list. If I haven’t taken any lunch to work with me, my parents are usually quick to notice. When I go to Nonna’s house, the cafeteria comes out and she motions for me to have some of the biscotti or chocolates on the table. If I’m the first to finish eating at a family get together, the host soon tells me to go up for seconds.

Food is at the center of family gatherings, visits to peoples homes and day to day life. Bringing the family together over a dish of pasta or Nonna’s cannoli is a lovely thing. Yet it has also proven to be one of the greatest challenges I have faced since being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. I have been conditioned to eat for as long as I can remember and diabetes has really challenged me to break away from this.”

You can check out the full column over at Diabetes Daily here.

(Also, can’t help but be reminded of this GIF…)