Sleepovers

Shortly after being diagnosed I went on a cruise, then moved away to college, attended parties, had sleepovers, shopping trips and visited friends and family for dinners and at no time did someone tell me they didn't want me over because I was too much of a burden being diabetic.  At no time was I refused because I 'might' go low or have high blood sugar.   I did what I wanted and was welcomed anywhere that I went, so how come children are being refused by their company just because they are seen as a 'burden' being diabetic.

After talking to a twelve year old diabetic today I realized that it isn't uncommon for children to feel like diabetes is holding them back from being a 'regular' kid and at first I thought it was their parents that was the cause of this (and I understand sometimes it is...) but to my surprise it also is the children's friend's parents.  It broke my heart when she said to me, "I was supposed to go to Port Dover this weekend with one of my friends, but her mom didn't feel comfortable having me for that long . . . But I know that I can do it by myself, but I guess they are just nervous to take me in their care, which sucks."  

I couldn't help but feel like I should drive her to the beach so she could enjoy a day out without worrying that someone was too worried about her.  As a 12 year old girl, she is being refused by her friends parents because they are too worried.   Is this happening with other children that are allergic to bees? prone to falling? that have strange phobias?  Why are diabetic children not even given a chance to enjoy a great sleepover or an afternoon adventure with their friends?

My concern is that this could be psychologically damaging.  Diabetic children never experiencing the over night birthday party their best friends are hosting or a night at the movie theatres.  Although I understand that parents think dealing with a diabetic child may be time consuming, it really isn't hard to follow the steps of making sure they check their blood sugar, take insulin and feel good.  Most of all diabetic children aren't totally oblivious about their diabetes.

When I talked to a few parents of diabetic children I learned that many of the diabetic parents I knew seemed to consider themselves lucky having their children make friends with more involved mothers and fathers.   The parents said that for the most part it is about preparing your children so that they can have that independence when going to a sleepover or a day trip with another family.   But, when talking to a few diabetics that have since grown up it seems that the hesitation was coming from all different ways.

Most said that it was their own hesitation on going with other families on trips or sleepovers because they didn't want to have to give themselves needles on their own.   Funny enough those that did venture off to friends houses for slumber parties were in the care of their friend's mother, who was a nurse. Others note that it wasn't so much the other children's parents that were not willing to take them on, it was more so their own parents that were worried about leaving too much responsibility to other parents.

But, like the mothers of diabetic children noted, is it important to prepare you children so that going to a sleepover isn't out of the question. When a child is prepared - sending she/he off won't be a problem for the parent, the child and the his or her friend's parents.   Lara, who was diagnosed in grade seven and is now in her twenties said that was known as the 'resposible' child because she was prepared to act on her diabetes and because she was seen this way she said that many of the skating parents were fine with having her over or taking care of her if her mother wasn't available.

So, it must be true that there is a mix bag of reasons why diabetic children and teens are sometimes feeling like being a 'regular' kid is tough when it comes to exploring things on their own. Educating those around you about your disease is the most important part about it, so that when you look back on your childhood you don't feel like your mixed the late night phone pranks, drawing marker on the first person who feel asleep's face and the day trip to the splash park your friends did.

Kayla

Healthy is Delicious

Betty Lou's Inc. Goodies!

I've always had a sweet tooth since I was young and being diagnosed with diabetes wasn't a result of that; however, it is a challenge to balance good blood sugars and a sweet tooth.  Living almost nineteen years without type 1 diabetes I found myself not willing to adapt my lifestyle and eating habits all that much.   I cannot simply just stop eating the good food I ate throughout my childhood and teenage years.

For the first couple months of being diagnosed everything was strict. I was told how much to eat and when to eat, but eventually the seatbelt of diabetes was unclipped and I was allowed to explore it on my own. Soon I was adjusting my own insulin and back to eating how I normally ate before.  It felt good to know that living with diabetes isn't a restraint and that me and Reese cups would meet again.

Recently I was sent a wonderful selection of bars and goodies from Betty Lou's Inc. I am not one to wander in the organic isle; however upon, that 6 months diabetic probation (or what it felt like to be..) I did enjoy some organic cheesies, but otherwise, I had not tried any of the alternatives out there.  The bars and treats that were sent to me looked delicious first off and although most are labeled Vegan or Gluten free, I was willing to try them all out and hopes of finding something that tasted just like any other bar but MUCH better for you.

Angell Crisp Bar

Now, I haven't attempted to try every treat, knowing that I will be laying on the beach in Dominican in 17 days, I picked one to try today and that was the Angell crisp bar.   The reason I picked this one first is because I LOVE chocolate and most of all milk chocolate.    This bar is milk chocolate with a crispy chocolate centre and a couple things to be noted, it is fair trade, organic, gluten free and doesn't contain corn syrup!    This bar was a decent size (about the size of a granola bar) and contained only 24 grams of carbs.   The best part about it is that it tasted just like a chocolate bar, not even a granola bar, like a real, delicious, chocolate bar!   

To my surprise while I was snacking on it, I wasn't thinking, "I can totally tell this is healthy for me..."  in fact I was SURPRISED that I was eating something that was gluten free and enjoying it.   I look forward to trying out the other snacks and hope that they are just as good as the Angell bar!  

Kayla

Optimistic

The gift basket given to me by the Optimist Club of Throndale

Last night I headed to the small town of 500 people called Thorndale, just outside of London. I wasn't expecting a huge crowd inside as I prepared my presentation about my blogs, but when I did get inside, I also did not expect to be inspired by those around me.  A group of 30 or so, optimist and their wives sat around set dining tables, there was also a head table, where myself and Sue Taylor (CDA) sat with a few other men.

The dinner bell sounded and we were ready to begin eating and learning more about  the optimist club.   While everything went well, no special traditions while dinner to catch me off guard, I realized how much the people around enjoyed their part in the optimist club. While some wives joked about not having to cook their husbands meals once a month, I realized that there is so much out there to do and to belong too.

But what stood out the most to me was the Optimist's Creed; which goes like this:

"Promise Yourself-

To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.

To talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person you meet.

To make all your friends feel that there is something in them.

To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.

To think only of the best, to work only for the best, and to expect only the best.

To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.

To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.

To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile.

To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others.

To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble."

Although this happened at the very end of the night, all of what I had talked earlier about regarding my diabetes, was concluded with this statement, that the Optimist club repeated at every meeting in closing of their meetings.   I stood there, listening to the voices hum of this message, really taking in every word and meaning, smiling and standing as straight as I could to respect their club.


I went there thinking I was going to be the one teaching them a lesson of finding inspiration, living life the the fullest as well as some facts about type 1 diabetes, and I am sure I did teach them, but at the same time, I didn't realize that I was going to be leaving with such a powerful message.  Something that I would print off and read over.  


I realized that as far as the definition of the word optimist goes, I am one.  Although I am not apart of the club, nor do I know much about it, only from what I learned from last night, I do think of myself as one who believes in what they stand for, and will continue my work as what I believe an 'optimistic' person would do. 


Such a pleasure!


Kayla 

Out of Whack

Unless you are snacking on the Easter Bunny's favourite treat, chances are your blood sugars were a little out of whack today. Like all the other holidays, it's hard to find the balance between decent blood sugars and enjoying your time.  Everyone wants to try a cookie or two, a chocolate egg and a handful of jelly beans, and even though ideally it seems easy to just press a few buttons to cover it, it isn't always as 'easy' to press those buttons.

I often give myself a break during holidays, while I know I should be the best pancreas all the time, it's tiring being a pancreas.  I enjoyed myself today and tomorrow I will indulge in dinner at my house for Easter.  I know that the blood sugars are riding a wave right now, and even my pump tried to call it quits when it pulled out of my skin and hid in the couch.  

The good thing is that holidays are spread out, so we don't need to worry too much about being a slacking pancreas.   But, I hope other diabetics are doing the same thing out there. Giving themselves breaks (still giving insulin and checking blood sugar) but, not worrying about highs as much and letting themselves indulge in some good treats from the Easter Bunny - after all that's what correction boluses are for....right?

Kayla

Diabetic Hunger Games

Not having read the hunger games, nor watched the movie, the title ultimately made me think of the fight diabetics have with themselves versus food.   Diabetes makes you focus on your food more than anything else, you are constantly seeing numbers swirl around your food choices, doing calculations in your head and guesstimating 80% of the time. An apple becomes the number 30 and 2 squares of a chocolate bar becomes the number 7.

Our food becomes our battle, as we fight with our blood sugars and try to work it out in the end. More so, our symptoms of both high and low blood sugars drive us to be hungry.  We find ourselves glaring into refrigerators looking for a snack, when only 15 minutes ago our blood sugar was above average. Something about diabetes is haunting, the fact that even when our bodies are consumed by sugar in our blood stream, we still have feelings of hunger.

But, for me, the hunger is enormous when my blood sugar drops, often times that is my best indicator when I am low.  I will wake up craving something, and know that for more most people, it would be easy to shake a 4 a.m craving off, but for me, that means take action and while I won't likely fulfil my craving with a Domino's Pizza at 4 a.m I will have to sit there, half awake gnawing on a straw of juice trying to such every drop up.

But, when it comes down to it, most of us are overindulging when we have low blood sugars, maybe even high blood sugars.  At these times, will power flies away and we are left shaking alone looking for something to eat. At many times we are embarrassed to the fact that we can 'eat' so much, but it truly is a game that takes a whole lot of time to play (much longer than monopoly) and in the same breath, I am not really sure if there is ever a winner at the end of a diabetic's hunger game.


Kayla

Happy, Laughing, Alive

Medtronic Pink Mio Infusion Site 

There comes a point when you just need to rock the insulin pump site that you have to wear. It is stuck to you 24/7 and as much as you can unhook your pump, it is not as easy to just take out a site, when you don't feel like wearing it (plus a huge waste of money!)  So, the only thing you have to do is just know that like the freckles on your shoulders and the dimples on your cheeks, your site is a beautiful part of you!

Why adore your site?   Besides the fact that you have to wear it, just remember that, that little white patch and tubing is saving your life. With a constant drip of insulin, you are able to stay happy, laughing and alive.  It may not be the most beautiful thing in the world, but some how we have managed to accept that brown mole on our leg, or that one crooked tooth we have. We find ways to find beauty in the things that make us unique, and there is nothing wrong with looking at your insulin pump site or pump for that matter, in the same light.

I recently decided to try out a pink site, rather than the clear ones I had used since pumping.    Everyone laughed at how excited I was to be able to wear a pink site, my happiness was probably equal to when I got a pink cover for my Macbook Pro, either way, I was happy to tweak something that I have to wear, and make it just how I wanted because I knew that it isn't an option to get rid of it, unless I was to consider going back on multiple daily injections. 

I love having a pink site and besides the fact it has the smallest tubing in the world (18 inches) I have found it perfect for me.   I enjoy my site, and will gladly show anyone who wants to see my beautiful pink site, that keeps me happy, laughing and alive each day. 

Kayla 

Meter Mix-Up

There are so many different meters out there in the diabetes world. Constantly companies are pushing out, smaller (rather than bigger) and better products that will make diabetes easier.  The good thing about the whole competitive world of meter-making is that as diabetics we have a wide variety of options to choose from, so if we are looking for a meter with small strips, we can find that, or if we are looking for something that can connect to our computer, that is out there too.

In a way it makes me wonder if there is TOO much choice in looking for the perfect meter, or is it true that we just use whatever we got free.  Do people really buy meters anymore?  As diabetics we spend so much money on strips and insulin, searching for free meters seems like the best and easiest thing to do. Pharmacy's are dying to give away their new meters with intentions on you coming back the next month to purchase four boxes of strips.

But, when it comes to choice, although we are bombarded with a ton of similar versions of the 'ideal' meter, I find that most diabetics are really tweaking the meters on their own. Adding pretty purple cases and the big choice of what pricker to use.  The meter isn't good without a drop of blood added to it each day, a few times or more.   So one of the most important aspects to a meter is what lancet device it comes with.    

I have found that more and more people are mixing companies, loving a lancet from one company, but choosing a meter from another.  It is all about how it feels on the finger tips, and what is easier to carry along with you.   Personally, I like something small and simple, while others like something bigger that contains more lancets so they don't have to change it as often.  It is all a matter of personal choice.

So, it's a matter of fact that no company is able to cover all bases for everyone.   Diabetics are customizing their daily tools in order to fit their own needs and there is nothing wrong with that.

Kayla