Friday, May 11, 2018

One Size Fits All Care

I've come across many people with diabetes who accept and handle their diabetes in different ways. Really and truly as much as people think diabetes is just about insulin doses, carb counts and blood sugars there are many factors that come into play when trying to manage the disease. The frustrating part of it all is that usually the care in which a person receives in clinics and hospitals alike, is the one size fits all care.

It's unfortunate because many (not all) health care providers just don't have the time or energy to sit down and focus on what the patient/person with diabetes truly needs to see the light at the end of the tunnel.   Sometimes it is a matter of listening or a matter of providing different options for care. For instance, in my case I knew my downfall came with blood sugar checking. I knew in order to avoid missed finger pokes, I needed a sensor to stay on track.    That isn't the solution for everyone, it was just one of my solutions.

I often meet with youth who live with type 1, many who have had diabetes longer than I have. They're experts in their own diabetes care, and often times they know what they're slacking in and what the answer is, but the idea of changing or putting in the extra work is daunting. I get it!  Imagine back to when you were a teenager and think about all that was on your mind, now throw in a complicated autoimmune disease.  It's daunting!  

The care one person needs can be completely different than the next.  It's about listening and finding out what the obstacle is and how as a whole community (I'm talking family members, healthcare team, friends etc.) can help the person with diabetes in a way that makes THEM feel comfortable in managing their diabetes in a successful way.

Kayla







Thursday, May 10, 2018

The Running Shoe Effect

Does anyone else feel like as soon as they put their running shoes on, their blood sugar decides to plummet?  I could be running high all day, but as soon as I pull out my Nikes from the closet and lace them up, my blood sugars begin to trend down, causing a delay in said exercise.

Yesterday, M and I decided to go for a hike after dinner. My blood sugar was 6 mmol/Land steady, and I really wanted to not treat pre-hike because 6 mmol/L is a lovely number to be at.  Unfortunately, as soon as we parked our car in the lot before the trail, and began our way through the hilly dirt trail, M scanned my sensor and said, "You're at 5 mmol/L and heading DOWN!" Of course, that 6 didn't last very long before I was having to eat candies for the entire hike because being stubborn and wanting to hike, I wasn't willing to turn around and go home.

We trekked a bit further before M decided we shouldn't go too far into the trail (for obvious reasons and he wasn't likely going to be able to carry me the rest of the way, if I did pass out) I was a bit annoyed at diabetes for the fact that my blood sugar was quite high all day despite going for a walk earlier and cleaning the windows and deck, which are two things that usually lower my blood sugar and now here I am plummeting into the ground of blood sugars.

We stopped a few times seeing a deer and her babies, talking to some other hikers passing by and taking silly photos of one another, but ultimately I could feel my blood sugar still dropping (cue the white spots in vision and weird mood coming on.)  

Ultimately we got a hike in and my blood sugars were merely a lesson that at anytime diabetes can do what it wants so you have to role with the punches.

Kayla

Wednesday, May 9, 2018

Tech Support

Often we talk about how diabetes technology is helping the person with diabetes.  We hear about how it will make the  person with diabetes lives easier by allowing them to ease some of the burden of having to run their entire pancreas with blood drops and syringes.  But, what I have come to realize is that diabetes technology not only benefits me as the person who has diabetes, but also everyone around me.

With two weeks before I become a Mrs. I am soaking up all the love from my friends and family. We had my bridal shower a couple weeks ago and my bachelorette was just last weekend.  Now, I've spoke about the affects of diabetes and alcohol before, so I will leave that aside; however, it was so key to have the technology during these fun times to help assist my friends keep me safe when I am too busy having fun!

More and more I am feeling thankful for the new diabetes technology that is honestly changing the game of diabetes.  My fiance does not have to wait for me to stubbornly check my sugar anymore, he can just secretly swipe by my sensor.   He doesn't have to worry about us remembering if I bolused for dinner, we can easily check my pump to make sure it happened.  I think about the ease of mind that the technology must bring those people around me. I know that the tools that were designed to make the person with diabetes lives easier, in return also helps the ones that love them too!

Kayla