Don't Blink

It seems that life doesn't change over time, it changes in an instant.  With tragic events all over the world that effect large groups of people, we know for sure that life can turn upside down in moments. But, forget  the moments that effect an entire country for a second and focus on the events that happen to your neighbours, coworkers and family members.

It's hard to sympathize with those you don't know or for places you've never been.  Yet, we try hard, those of us that are empathic to put ourselves in the heels, boots or flip flops of another person. For me, I am constantly wondering what it would be like to live another person's life for a day or too. What kind of lessons would I learn?

In the past little bit I have experienced a bunch and all of the things have changed or altered my view or possibly just put a pre-existing view into to better focus.   Anyone in Southern Ontario knows that the past couple weeks have been filled with mother nature scares and most recently closer to my home, an explosion.

I know I am not a reporter of any kind, nor is this the purpose of the blog; however, all of these events have sent out a clear message to me at least, "Don't take a single second for granted - don't blink." We truly don't know when our last breath, tear, laugh or smile is and if we take the time to appreciate it all while we are here it makes it clearer why we are all living, breathing, crying, laughing and smiling.  

After being diagnosed with diabetes I knew that I couldn't take life for granted anymore.  I had perfect health one second and then a disease the next.  I learned a huge lesson that day that I have never forgot and have always lived with. It truly has gotten me through a lot in my life and I wish I had this life lesson when I was a teenager.    

We can't change what has happend, but we can make what is next better.  We need to appreciate everything that does happen as well, we can't ignore history, we need to take little lessons from it and apply them to our future.  

I guess, the past couple days, more recently last night after the huge explosion - I began to realize just how important that simple life lesson I had taught myself two years ago.  Don't blink.

Kayla

Diabetes Slump

I am trying to think of a good name to label it, but the best I can think of is the diabetes slump.   Basically I have had diabetes for almost 3 years (in March) and I am ready to ditch it.  Well, okay, diabetes has brought me a lot of good in my life and I would never take back any of that for anything; however, checking my blood sugar often and dealing with the insulin pump sometimes is a huge hassle.

I am sure any diabetic right now is bobbing their head up and down agreeing with me  Knowing that we aren't going to give up on diabetes; yet, at times it is the most annoying thing in the world. I can just imagine the day of the cure when thousands and thousands of diabetic go running through fields throwing their insulin pumps in the air and meters never to be picked up again.  

This disease is like a shadow that you can't run away from.  But, before I get concerned emails and messages about how I am feeling, everyone knows I don't give up and I am not about to throw my insulin pump into the pool (it is medtronic i.e not waterproof)  or stop purchasing strips -  I am going to get through this diabetes slump and pull through.

Kayla

Goodnight & Don't Let Diabetes Keep You Up All Night!

I find it pretty amazing how my body can let me know that I have low blood sugar.  You know that little voice in your head often portrayed in movies as the little devil or angel on your shoulder, well mine, his name is diabetes and he is always letting me know what's up.

Last night around 2am I felt a little strange..not shaking, not sweaty - just strange.  I began to think of some good food that I would like to eat, and then it hit me, "hey you're probably low!"   When I got out of bed and put my glasses on,  I realized my vision was a little off and my muscles felt a little weak, so I went forth with the whole routine.

I checked my sugar, 3.4 and then grabbed a couple things to eat.  All the diabetics right now are probably like, "what did you grab? what did you grab?"  Well, I grabbed cookies, but you can't have cookies with milk, so I also poured myself a glass of milk, after having one cookie, I decided I didn't want to have cookies, so I started to search again finding Cheesies, but I had one and it was stale, so I then resorted to a Flakie (pastry snack) and then went back to bed.

Going low at night isn't always the most fun because first you don't want to get out of bed and second you aren't feeling like eating a whole meal, but diabetes will make you feel like you need too.  I often go to bed after feeling bloated and sick because of all the food 'diabetes' made me eat!

In September; however, I will be living in my apartment and my bedroom is conveniently located right outside the kitchen - imagine that!

Kayla

Diabetic Barbie

Eventually new things become old things and we just get used to what is handed to us.  Our life doesn't seem as exciting as it does to a stranger because we live in it.   It wasn't until recently did I realize that I do, do a lot and really do sound like Barbie at times...diabetic barbie that is.

An old friend from high school told me to look at all I have accomplished since I got diabetes.  I honestly had no idea he even noticed... I realize that I broadcast it on here and Facebook a lot, but to really hear it in person made me step back and appreciate myself.

I haven't always been a strong person, but everyone goes through those stages where they wonder what they have to offer to the world.  I guess it hit me when I was diagnosed that I am capable of so much more than I even thought I was, and most of all than some people in my life had given me credit for.

To think now that I have stood in front of a crowd of 500 and told the story of me, I have been interviewed by the newspaper to tell, well, the story of me.   I know that I have accomplished something worth sharing and that no matter what life throws at me I am ready to take it on and turn it into something good.

I guess if I were to give any advice at this moment it would be to keep your chin up and don't look back. Yes, you thought some things were forever that turned out to be a short while, yes you thought somethings were the end of the road that were only a bump in the road - I realize at times things seem like a big deal and turn out to be nothing at all, but we just have to keep our chin up and don't look back.

Kayla

New Chapters

So, everyone probably wondered why I haven't written for such a long time. To be honest, diabetes as much as it has to be 24/7 I have sort of put it on the back burner for awhile.   My life honestly has once again done a 360 and with that being said a lot of changes have been made.  A lot of rearranging, sorting and understanding had to be done.  

Diabetes never went away during this and of course I had to deal with diabetes and a break up with as much courage and strength as I could.  Meaning, despite not wanting to eat, I had too.  Now, I am back to normal and diabetes, well it is just diabetes.

For a little while I wasn't sure when I was going to come back to this, I knew that I would eventually, but wasn't sure how soon it would be.  I knew my readers would forgive me, but as I sat in bed tonight I realized that writing in this blog is apart of my life that I enjoy and it was time to get back to it.

So, what does life bring now?  Well, I am finishing up the summer by working as per usual, and in between I am trying to soak up as much sun and fun as I can.   Soon school will start and my schedule will be totally different and once again life will do a 360.   Just like the seasons, my life is changing constantly.

I can predict some new chapters however, regarding diabetes and dating and all that fun stuff.   Yes, the joy of describing diabetes.     Either way I know there are thousands of diabetic boys and girls wondering the same thing, so let me figure it out and let you know this year.

I predict some big things this year, just have a feeling that I am going to get a lot of good things accomplished and prove that whatever life happens to throw at me I am willing to deal with, despite already proving this several times.

But, I wanted to write tonight to let you know I'm BACK! Let's do this.

Kayla

CDA Golf Tournament

Motivational speaking, who knew that I would be apart of that!  Never in a million years would I think I would be standing in front a group of people speaking about how diabetes has changed my life.  But, I also would have never imagined being diagnosed with any kind of disease!

Today was the CDA Golf Tournament in Burford.  After the tournament was done the 65 golfers headed inside for a nice steak dinner, auction and door prizes. Also within that I was up for speaking.  I had my powerpoint on hand and told my story of living with diabetes (something I make up on the spot because I live it!)  No papers or scripts needed - diabetes is with me everyday I have LOTS to say about it!

The speech went really well and I was so excited to share my story with everyone and hear all the positive feedback afterwards.  I am looking forward to doing more events with the CDA and hope that I have touched a few lives in the process.

Kayla

I Survived the Warrior Dash

On Saturday we geared up for the craziest race of my life yet and I am sure others can agree.   Before the race even started we were shocked about how many people were there - thousands! Some dressed up in extreme costumes while others just ready to take on the race as is.   Either way the one thing that stood out to us was the big "Medical" tent filled with beds and not only beds, but people.    If that wasn't alarming enough we got to see the gashes and broken ankles first hand as they were carried to the tent by paramedics and volunteers.... was this a good idea?

The start of the race was slow, with such a high volume of people (despite having races every half hour) we walked until we reached a bigger pathway and then we began to run (but that only lasted a couple minutes) we then hit a HUGE mud pit.   Now, I have done the mud run for 3 years now and I have no seen this much mud!   Wow, there was no chickening out, no going around and no tip toeing.  This was the start of something that was unlike any other race I had done before!

After treading through the mud our shoes were like big bricks, with some speedy running the mud flew off and we headed up hills and more hills (I had no idea we were at a ski resort until my dad had pointed it out... maybe that would have been a good thing to know before hand)  Either way we eventually reached another obstacle, we had to climb under a black tent with wood bars underneath... basically crawling on our hands and knees in the dark.  Not bad, not bad..

Then we were back to running and running, but more like walking and walking. It was extremely hot and the hills were almost impossible! You could see many people sitting on the sidelines with paramedics, most likely dehydrated.  

The next obstacle was a large wall with a rope, it seemed like it would be difficult, but it wasn't too bad.   The paramedics cheered us on on the sidelines!   After that came the big web, I think the only reason this was difficult was because my mom kept flinging the strings back when she was done getting untangled.  

Next was the giant hill we got to go down.   As we watched one girl go down on her bum, we though we would try it. Man, did I fly! However, at the end of it I had worn a hole right in the bottom of my yoga pants!  So for the rest of the race I was trying to cover my bottom!

Next came the ropes, we had to climb over.   The fact that there was a guy with a hammer fixing it every couple seconds was a little worry some, however, safety first right?  Next came the tires and junkyard!  My mom believed she was a pro at the tires and took right off bouncing from one to another without looking back.   Climbing and stepping on the cars felt a little strange - since when can you do something like this!  It was fun!

The giant hay hill was next! It was a little wobbly heading up the hill, but mom showed us the way down.  Jump, tuck and roll! She was so impressed by it (or we just thought it was too funny not to do again)  she climbed back up and did it again!

Then it was the giant slip and slide down the ski hill!  However, it was on rocks, someone didn't plan this out very well, or they wanted us to get injured. Stephanie ended up cutting her arm on the rocks below it.  Thankfully we were done shortly!

All we had left was the big rope climb, which wasn't bad, but behind it you could see the fire. THE FIRE! The thing that scared most people away from signing up.   We hesitated a bit, but then took a run for it!  After all the paramedics and fire fighters were standing by...

Then came the barbed wire, but guess what! No barbed wire, just chains!  However, the mud was so rocky it was painful to crawl on your hands and knees to the finish line, but once you got there it felt good!   We had completed the Warrior Dash, or should I say Survived!