Go Low

Yesterday was my first day back from a month long winter break. I only had three classes, two being 50 minutes and one being 3 hours but the day was hectic and caused me to go low two times both being 4.7.

Since I have all new classes (besides the three hour class) I had to figure out where they were and most of all how I was going to get from B building to M building in 10 minutes. Not only was this something to think about, I also had to worry about when I was going to eat, I started at 11 a.m and finished at 2 p.m. As usual I ate breakfast around 9 a.m and brought a snack for in between class. Unfortunately by the time I got back to residence my sugar was 4.7, I then had lunch.

The second time I went low was around 10:30 p.m and I had an idea something was up since I was fumbling around my words which gave my roommates some entertainment until Olivia had to fork up some Gushers so that I could bring my sugar back up.

Like anything I have to work around my schedule which means changing insulin dosages and eating at appropriate times. It's hard to manage diabetes when you're trying to manage everything else around you but it is achievable.

Kayla

I believe

I hope to have an eventful 2010. I have high hopes that 2010 will be big for diabetes. I hope that there is a lot of change for us diabetics because I know every day is one step closer to curing diabetes. I believe in a cure.

There are many things that I want to achieve this year, and personally knowing what I have achieved in the past I feel like these dreams are definitely achievable. I plan to work hard this term just as hard as first term and beyond school, I want to achieve many other things. I believe in myself.

It will take me the rest of life to show how much I appreciate the support I have received, and I am willing to do this. Without friends and family I doubt that I would able to handle the stress of diabetes among other things in my life. I believe in my support system.

There are several things that I believe in. If you know me well, you know that I chase dreams and although at times some seem unrealistic I reach them with pride and don't give up. I believe that no matter what life hands me I will be okay. I believe I will be just fine.

Kayla

Lessons Learned

It's not easy, well nothing is easy. Everything takes time and effort, nothing can be forgotten. I have learned a lot so far in my life and I am only nineteen. It seems that in the past little while I have learned more about myself than I could have ever imagined.

I learned that I am strong, and not only strong but absolutely capable of getting through whatever life throws at me. My disease isn't going to control me . . . I am going to control my disease and that is what makes me strong. An adjustment to my lifestyle has had to occur on different occasions and with positive support and reassurance I have accomplished more in my life than I ever believed previous to being diabetic.

I realized that being patient is the key to success. We live in an instant world, we want everything right now. Unfortunately this gives us a lot of disappointment because a lot of things in life don't happen over night. Although I can be extremely impatient at times, I learned that patients is key. I try to apply this to my life, I take a couple breaths and think one day I'll get there, today is one step closer.

Self worth is something that I am slowly gaining. My life is full of ups and downs and I am sure everyone reading this can relate. We all go through speed bumps that batter us down but the most important thing is for us to get back up and try again. Our past can rarely be forgotten and the memories we have created will always be a part of our history but that doesn't mean we can't become a better person from it. I have been called every name in the book but I have never let the labels and stereotypes become who I am because I am better than every name a person has ever called me.

I learned the importance of good friends. I regret not spending more time with my friends but from this I am eager to change. I want to make sure that my friends know just how much I appreciate them. Unlike most friends I come with instructions, give me a needle if this, give me sugar if that... Diabetes is not a disease that can be battled alone, you need the love of friends in family to keep positive.

Another thing I learned about myself is that despite always seeming to have a lot of down time for myself, I really don't take enough time to reflect. Since having my blogs; however, I have really allowed myself to speak out and not be scared of my voice and opinions. I know that people will judge, everyone judges, but I am not scared to be judged.

Diabetes has put me on a different track, I had everything planned at one point in my life and realized you can't plan your life to detail, you can only dream and work with the obstacles.

Kayla

Next Chapter

What's next?

I can't help but wonder what is to come for me. This year could have anything in store, life is very unpredictable after all I never thought I'd be living with diabetes at age nineteen. The most important thing that I try to keep in mind is that I am glad to be alive, well and most of the time happy with where my life has brought me.

It's unfortunate that we are put through so many different obstacles and trials in life. It's extremely hard to plan for the future when your tomorrows are not always guaranteed. The best way to go about life is to know that the obstacles and trails will make us stronger. Lessons learned from our past will make great stories for the future.

Being a scrapbooker and a person who takes endless amounts of pictures, I want to make sure that my story is told. Even though to many my life story isn't exactly thrilling or exciting, I do hope that to someone it will give them answers, laughs and inspiration.

If you think of everyday as another chapter in your life, hopefully it will inspire you to get out there and make something of each and every day.

So what's in your next chapter?

Kayla

Not Always Easy

Today my sugar was 21.2 simply because I decided I was going to indulge and have a hot chocolate. I should have taken insulin, considering how much sugar is on a hot chocolate, but I didn't and ended up paying the consequences.

I barely have hot chocolate I think that since being diagnosed I have only had maybe three cups. It's one of those things I crave every now and then and enjoy having especially during a cold hockey game.

There are certain things that I am not used to having to watch and slowly it's becoming more routine but I must admit that sometimes I slip and want to just eat whatever I can and whenever I want.

Kayla

Good-Bye 2009

It's been a long 2009 and finally we have reached 2010. I am sure we are all looking forward to new beginnings with family and friends. Throughout the year new friends will be made, new adventures will be taken on but most of all the bonds we share with old friends will hopefully grow stronger.

For me 2009 marks a lot of significant events. It's been nearly 10 months of living with diabetes, after being diagnosed March 13 2009. Throughout these 10 months I have learned more about myself than ever before. Diabetes has brought out the motivation in me to achieve more and push harder. I am not afraid of being wrong or not going with the crowd. I am confident to be myself and live and learn.

In 2009 I got a chance to be up close in person with some famous faces, George Canyon, Keith Urban and Justin Bieber. Of course George Canyon was the more inspirational person to me; however just touching Keith Urban's hand was quite the thrill. As for Justin Bieber, let's just say he hasn't learned manners yet!

This past year I grew a lot closer to my family and friends. My aunts and uncles have shown enormous support for me as well as my cousins. My grandparents have been a great help in keeping me positive. My friends have shown their true selves giving me the insurance of who is a great friend and who was not and there is nothing wrong with that.

2009 brought tears, anger and pain. Being diagnosed with diabetes isn't always a walk on the beach. I have my moments of anger and tears. The needles aren't always working in my favour and the motivation to give myself insulin sometimes takes time. Besides my diabetes, Clinton lost his Papa in June. This really stuck with me because I had never been so close to someone whom past away.

2009 was the year of achievements. Raising $2645 for JDRF, receiving $500 for JDRF from North Park and many more. I was seen in the News Paper three times, Team KK, NPC and Greatest Kid. I was constantly working on a new project with diabetes, my recent one being Helping Hands.

It was year of Chapters and in total, I created 171 blog entries in close to 10 months. I am so thrilled and excited that I was able to share a part of my life in 2009 with everyone and I am excited to continue writing more and more. I hope I helped at least one person out there.

Kayla

Goals

I had a quiet New Years with Clinton last night which made managing diabetes pretty easy. We just made pizza and a few snacks and watched a couple movies, pretty low key.

I started thinking about what my New Years Resolution would be, but when I thought about it I realized that people really don't follow these silly things. I know that the gym will be absolutely packed this following week, but then the people will slowly stop going. Just like people who eat extremely healthy for a couple weeks then have one treat from McDonalds and they're off the wagon.

For me, I rather think of a goal. I set them for myself a lot. I never realized how much I did this until Clinton brought it up last night. A goal for how much money I wanted to raise for Team KK, a goal for how many hands I wanted for Helping Hands, a goal for school which led to me achieving a 4.0 and many other goals.

My goal now is to try manage my diabetes a little better. I can always improve. This disease is with me until there is a cure so it is in my hands to treat myself right and avoid the complications that haunt diabetes.

Rather than setting yourself up for doom by saying New Years resolution, maybe we should think about specific goals, we most likely set them all the time. If we just make one goal, it can lead to another, and then another and before you know it, you've achieved more than you ever knew you could. This is something I have learned.

Happy New Year!

Kayla