Monday, September 26, 2011

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

Saturday, September 24, 2011

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

Thursday, September 22, 2011

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

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

The Low Down

It seems like going low happens at the weirdest times - sometimes those times are convenient like during a trip to the grocery store while other times completely throw you off and make you curse diabetes.   For me my prime low times occur in the waking hours of the morning like 4 a.m (by waking hours, I don't mean I am awake and I feel bad for anyone who does wake up at this time on a regular basis)   But, sometimes my lows come at strange times and make you wonder, "How did I go low! I just had dinner!"

As diabetics we are given ratios, according to how much carbs we have and how much insulin we need to take. For example, I take 1 unit for every 10 grams of carbs I have.   So that's pretty simple and anyone can do the math, but luckily for me my pump does that math anyways!   But, sometimes the carb/ratio idea is completely off.  Sometimes you eat something and 30 minutes later you experience a low and have no idea why.

I am not a doctor, but I am a diabetic and can honestly say that just because you took 2 units for one thing another day doesn't mean you are going to need 2 units the next day despite eating the same thing.  There are so many things that effect blood sugar that it can be a huge task to pinpoint what the issue is and how to prevent such things as lows and highs.

For me, I just had dinner about 15 minutes ago, cleaned my room up a little bit and then could feel the signs of a low coming on, and then had to treat a 4.2.    I don't know if the whole intense cleaning made my sugar low, but I know I didn't eat food that takes longer to digest. Other factors can come into play like stress - there really is no exact answer.

There really is now reason sometimes why we go low.  I just know that when I wake up at 4 a.m there probably is another diabetic pulling down her sheets, stumbling to the kitchen and eating everything in sight.  So there is the low down!

Kayla

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

I know something you don't know . . .

Being a diabetic, it is like you have some hidden information that no one else quite knows.  There are so many things that go along with being diabetic that touch on all aspects of our lives that it is hard not to erupt at someone who tries to say, "Milk doesn't have carbs!"  Clearly milk has carbs and if it didn't I wouldn't be shooting up insulin for that wonderful cold glass of milk I just had after eating almost carb-less peanut butter (by the way you non-diabetics may have assumed peanut butter has carbs.. wrong again.. hardly any...)

Being diabetic, I know a few things about carb counting, the pancreas, what insulin does etc.  so, when you are sitting around the fire, and someone is having a private conversation with the person beside them about, "this girl they know, who is like diabetic, totally was so drunk and her sugar was so high she totally, needed to eat something...." and you know that insulin will lower blood sugars NOT food... sometimes the knowledgeable diabetic in you wants to shout out, YOU'RE WRONG!

But, it goes beyond the diabetic herself...our friends and family who now know so much about diabetes are getting sensitive and knowledgeable too.  I know Michelle has told me that she gets mad when people misunderstand diabetes or make wrong statements about the disease.  We all get offensive and want to sit the ignorant down and give them the 411 about diabetes.

But, before we go preaching about diabetes we have to acknowledge our own ignorance to other things in the world.  We may be know-it-alls about diabetes, but let's be serious there are MANY other things in the world diseases or not that we are totally unaware of.

Kayla

Saturday, September 17, 2011

Belly Break

I have been using my stomach as my personal pin cushion for the past 2+ years. My go to spot for any injections I needed to take and the more I thought about it I began to realize that my stomach had become my comfort zone for shots and the longer I began to hold back from using any other areas, the more I feared trying it out.

Now, I am not one to back down when it comes to trying something new; however, the thought of sticking a needle in my leg etc. was haunting me.   So many diabetics told me their favourite injection spots were places like their back or their arms and the whole time I couldn't help but think how terrifying that sounds.

My stomach is now marked with mini scars and bruises from endless abuse, left side, right side, left side, right side. At the hospital, after telling them my concerns they introduced me to a new type of site for my pump that allows me to put the site in anywhere I wish by just pressing a button.   She asked me if I wanted to try it that day, but being super timid I let her put it in me (and it wasn't that bad!)

So, she let me take some home for when I got up the courage to put in one myself.  This happened at 10:30 p.m the other day. I know nighttime isn't the best time, but at this point I was like it is now or never.  With Michelle there to witness it, I opened the confusing packaging and let Michelle record our adventure... because let's face it, I knew it was either going to go really well or horribly wrong.

So, we did it! I don't know how, but we worked together and the site was in and we laughed as we replayed the video.   Now, I think I will be hooked to these (literally).  I am excited for my box of silhouette sites to be done so I can buy some new ones and that way I can give my belly a much deserved vacation!  

Where is my site now you ask? Well I decided to put it on my side (almost my back)  Still close to familiar grounds, but also a little risque. 

Kayla 

Friday, September 9, 2011

Diabetic's Dating Ad


All diabetic girls must feel a sense of uncertainty when browsing for a man, it's not like we can just date a guy who hates needles and faints every time he sees blood.  It's not like we can date a sugar-a-holic who refuses to buy anything but sugar.  We need to be a little picky when it comes to trusting someone to test our sugar, put up with our highs and lows and most of all dig diabetic girls... right?

So, I began to think what exactly a diabetic girl's dating ad would look like, right beside the classified section in the local newspaper beside the pictures of a for sale used couches and a dog that is looking for a new home.  Of course we would include a photo with our ad and not just our photo from the last party we attended or the family BBQ last summer, oh no, this picture would be us skydiving or climbing the Rocky Mountains, even better it would be us holding up our pump or our metre with a perfect 5.5 reading.

So if this catches the eye of someone special, they will begin to look more into it. Start reading the quick description, single, female, diabetic... the three most important things.  Then maybe you would include your a1c, 7.1 and a couple quick stats about your diabetes.   After he gets the idea of what he is in for, a good diabetic or a bad one, that is when he will either turn the page or keep on reading.  That's when you will get into what you're looking for someone who doesn't mind needles, someone who doesn't mind mood swings, someone who doesn't mind being ignored, someone who doesn't mind being yelled at, someone who doesn't mind you laughing out of control for a solid hour, someone who doesn't mind you binge eating at 4 a.m, someone who doesn't mind you being indecisive in the grocery store as your blood sugar plummets and you can't decide between a KitKat or a Aero Bar, someone who can help you check your blood sugar when you come home from the bar... and the list continues, someone who wants to meet other diabetics (because let's be serious half your Facebook friends are lacking a working pancreas) someone who doesn't mind sitting through doctor's appointments and most importantly, and this would be in bold; "SOMEONE WHO DOESN'T ASK CAN YOU EAT THIS?!"

Sincerely, the single diabetic: you would sign off and hope that someone out there who is looking for a 'sweet' girl fulfils your request.

Kayla

*newspaper is not real - computer generated by me.