Accomplished!

Although it seems that the biggest dream of mine would be for a cure; I rarely think about a cure for diabetes.   It may some where down the road be possible it just isn't the first dream that I have for myself.    Diabetes does suck and every now and then when my pump is dangling from my bed or I need to readjust it or find somewhere to hide it, I think to myself, "It would be nice to not have to rely on something other than my body parts to keep me alive." 

The pump nonetheless can make you feel robot-like.   My robotic pancreas can dangle 23inches away from my body, smack into oncoming objects and hook on to doorknobs and handles.    Despite the pump being a pain, I know that it is beneficial to my health.   If they do find a cure or even a way to give insulin without me having to see, look, touch, or DEAL with it then that would be great.

In the meantime I have other dreams and wishes that I want in life.  I want to graduate from University, get married have children and a great job as well as do a bunch of amazing things in my life.  To add to that, I want to say I accomplished it all while living with diabetes and hey if they cure diabetes by the time I accomplish some of these things then I won't mind saying I accomplished some of this with diabetes and then I was cured and accomplished some more!  

Kayla 

Success with Diabetes

Diabetes hasn't always been a part of my life.  But, a huge part of me cannot imagine what it was like to live without.  I spent nearly nineteen years of my life diabetes free - wow, what an accomplishment!    I guess since diabetes has pretty much consumed my entire life I can't imagine knowing nothing about it.   The words, basal, bolus, prime, rewind, insulin and pancreas are common words in my everyday life and if you're a friend of mine chances are you're catching on to these terms as well (and if you're not a friend of mine, then Hello! Nice to meet you!)

I think it is safe to say that diabetes has managed to welcome itself into my home, my bed, my classroom and even in my bra!  For something I knew nothing about 2.5 years ago, I really have a lot of proof to show that I now have my Masters in Diabetes Education...or Diabetes Living.

My whole mindset has changed and my lifestyle has readjusted, but nonetheless I have proved that living with diabetes isn't a big deal. Yes, I've heard you can lose your leg or go blind, but those are the things that diabetes takes away from you, more people need to talk about what diabetes gives you like courage and strength...all of these poor diabetics being told that if they don't 'tighten' their blood sugar or else...why not give them the real life stories of success with diabetes!

Kayla

Explaining Diabetes

Living with diabetes we just know what it is all about, so when we have to explain something to someone it can get a little repetitive or even complicated to explain.  Add being low or high into the mix and you've really got a messy situation.   The past two nights my sugar has plummeted past 4.0 and both times I was with Vince who is still patiently learning about diabetes (even taking the time to do some research on his own).

Unfortunately though there is one misconception when my sugar goes low as much as I would love a feast it just isn't plausible considering I need something quick.  I think this is the biggest part of diabetes that confuses non-diabetics next to a couple other things, "omg you can eat sugar?" and the whole issue of what does insulin do lower your sugar or make your sugar higher?

Both times I have gone low he asked me if I wanted stuff like pasta, pizza basically a meal meanwhile I was stuffing cookies in my mouth agreeing to all of these food choices because every diabetic knows when you're low you're  HUNGRY!    I feel bad because I was also trying to explain that when my sugar drops I need something immediate and fast acting.   He then asked what that would be and I gave him a good list off the top of my head of what would be good.

Needless to say the next day he said to me, "I know where we keep the honey in the house now..."


Kayla

Becoming Diabetic

It's mid October and I haven't wrote in awhile.  I don't really think it is because I have had nothing to say because let's face it, living with diabetes is part of living an eventful life. I have just been busy with school and I guess, a social life that I haven't been able to sit down and really press out my thoughts on the blog.  I feel in a way I have left a few people hanging, so I am going to try my hardest to keep on this.

My life with diabetes has been a little slacking. I am finding it harder and harder to be on the ball with my diabetes with everything else that is going on around me.  Thankfully the people in my life remind me daily of what diabetes entails and what I should do.   I have found myself what I like to think the guy I was looking for in my diabetes ad and so far he has been putting up with all the requirements to be a Type 3 Diabetic.

This kind of leads me to think that when you meet a diabetic in some way the non-diabetic must feel like they have themselves become diabetic in a sense.  The whole idea of keeping up to date with blood sugars and making sure that the unprepared diabetic is okay when the meter is lost or the pump rips out.   Vince even had a dream the other day he said, that he had a pump.   He laughed when he told me that in his dream he knew exactly how to use it and that he carried it on his arm like one of those iPod holders for the gym.  Somehow I have turned him diabetic!

Diabetes isn't just a disease for one person. It takes a lot of learning from people around you and the relationship you share with them is a little different than most.   For me, I have developed a lot of great relationships with people over the time that I have diabetes and even though some of those people are no longer in my life; I know that those who care about you take your disease into consideration 100% and I have been lucky enough to find all of those type of people!

Kayla

Crazy Yoga & a New Endo (That isn't Crazy!)

Today I continued the workout plan since Sunday I was back home celebrating 5 birthdays including mine, yes, yes it was in August shhh!   Anyways, after all the cheesecake and snacks I had to get back into the flow of things come Monday.   I had left my agenda in London so I was pretty much hoping that by the time I arrived back to the apartment, my class hadn't begun.   Which it hadn't - I had written down that I wanted to do stretch yoga followed by cycle.

So, I got ready to go and felt good about it too.  After standing in a huge line to get into a yoga class of 70 people I realized that this yoga was not going to be the average find your chee type class.  The teacher was crazy to say the least, very energetic however.  After explaining her to my roommates they instantly knew who I was talking about and we laughed as we demonstrated the sun salutation that she did in 2 seconds...fastest move in the entire world.  I didn't get too much peace in this class; however, it was fun and I did use my ab muscles not only to plank, but to laugh.

Since cycle followed right after yoga, there were no bikes left by the time I put my mat away. So, I learned that I can't schedule back to back classes!

Previous to crazy yoga I met my new endocrinologist. She was really nice and really took many things into consideration which I liked.  I wasn't used to an endocrinologist taking such interest in me, for once I can say, I really enjoyed that appointment.   I know so many diabetics that have had bad experiences or felt that they were not in good hands, but from my experience today I feel like I will be enjoying my visits with her.

Overall, today was a crazy day and to end with crazy yoga, I must admit made the day.  

Kayla

The Workout Plan

There was a time when diabetics were instructed to do nothing.  We were pretty much summoned to our couches.  But now we can do whatever we want and we are practically limitless when it comes down to it. I wasn't always a super active person pre-diabetes.  The fact that I am super uncoordinated played into this, no one can enjoy a hip hop class when you are always two steps behind and going left instead of right.  

As far as sports I never really had the skill to hit a ball or to know when to hit the ball in fact.   I did participate in gym class; however, and tried my best when it came down to it, but overall the idea of physical activity was almost like a threat.  Just before I was diagnosed officially I began working out intensely at the gym and realized that say, running on a treadmill or using a machine was much different than crip walking across a studio.

I began really enjoying biking and running and just being active.  Once I was diagnosed with diabetes I had no idea if this was possible to continue. However, that wonder only lasted a couple hours after being shown the Connected in Motion website that showed a person canoeing on the home page.  

Since being diagnosed I have gone above and beyond what I physically thought possible for myself. I am not an athlete or a dancer, nor am I physically built; however, I feel good.    Yesterday I went into the  Western University gym for the first time to do a cardio ball class and today I did a beginner step class.  I plan to do a class at least 5-6 times a week and make sure that I tell you about them to encourage myself.

Cardio ball was actually really fun. We all had this big exercise balls  and got to bounce, roll, throw and dribble them across the studio floors.  Step class, although beginner seemed like it was going to be the end of me, especially because I was feeling the cardio ball class in my legs and arms.    There is a lot of great classes that are offered and I plan to tell you about all of them!

Pft, diabetes better keep up.

Kayla

No One Can See

For me diabetes has become a part of who I am and something that I feel the need to share with the people around me.  I wouldn't say that I am totally in your face, "I HAVE DIABETES," but it is definitely something that I don't hide from the people around me.  I have never felt embarrassed about my diabetes surprisingly. In fact I think I had more anxiety growing up with a birth mark on my left leg than I ever did with diabetes.  I remember taking swimming lessons and covering my hand over my birth mark until we were emerged in the water (we are talking about a birth mark the size of maybe a nickel)  But now, I wear a visible pump (the size of a pager) and I swing it around, make jokes about it and hold it up for the occasional picture.

Despite being totally open about my disease there is a sense of frustration I hold about the whole idea.  In fact there are times when I say, OH MY GOD I have diabetes and more recently I have started to envy those with self producing insulin.  I wonder why they don't have diabetes and will they get to live a healthy life forever?  

I think this frustration and pancreatic jealousy is common and normal.  To everyone else I am a basic, Canadian female, but to those I have talked to know that I have one extra thing that makes me stand out in a crowd of at least 12 (unless of course I am at a Connected in Motion event... not so special there....)  

I guess no one can see this side of diabetes or know what it is like to be jealous of a working pancreas, but the best I can do is know that I am doing my best.

Kayla