Diabetes Blog Week

I sat chin in hand looking at the blank page on my monitor, allowing my mind to drift off to that land where the wise, old lady hands me this little green pill and with a surprisingly strong voice said “swallow it”.  She looks just like Grandma, I close my eyes then swallow the pill then slowly open my eyes to find myself in front of La maison du Chocolat the one at Printemps Haussmann in Paris.

“Was that a magic travel pill” I asked the old lady –“Non” she said “It is the pancreas healing pill” No side effects, your pancreas is back in perfect working order your body has regenerated you are CURED. I looked around in confusion. “We are here to celebrate with gastronomy in Paris tour”

I ordered the dark chocolate ganache, it was smooth and very, very good then I followed that with the chocolate dipped marzipan it’s outrageously good the chewy texture fill my mouth hmm the orange blossom flavor come together into a chocolaty fruity eruption. Happy in chocolaty heaven I run over to Laduree and picked up a box of macaroons that contains one of each flavor I start off with the fleur d’Oranger in keeping with the orange blossom theme slowly savoring the taste, textures and flavors.

All without a single worry, sign or symptom of high blood glucose, I thank wise old lady for the cure for the gift for the pure miracle.

I close my eyes blocking out my visual sense to further soak in the flavors, savoring every nibble allow my other sense to take over. I smiled and opened my eyes.

I was back at my desk in Vancouver I reached into my right pocket and felt my insulin pump.

Posted: May 17th, 2010 under Journeying through life, Life & Diabetes.
Comments: 3

I thought about posting pictures of diabetes supplies but decided against it instead I would like to share a picture that made me think about diabetes.

I was out on a photo walk when I saw this bird swoop into the ocean flying back up with a catch, I quickly snapped the picture. Wondering about the number of carbohydrates and how much energy it takes to fly.

Posted: May 15th, 2010 under Journeying through life, Life & Diabetes.
Comments: 3

I have not had a regular exercise routine in so long that I forget what the words regular plus exercise means. I know that regular exercise is critical to staying healthy and that it helps improve insulin sensitivity blah, blah, blah - but knowing and doing are two totally different things.

I have been unmotivated for a long while now though every now and then I get a little burst of motivation that gets me out taking a long walk, similar to the 7+ miles we walked Monday evening or on Saturday morning walking 7miles around the Stanley Park seawall.

I do however hear the voice of my CDE (certified Diabetes Educator) on repeat. Like a broken record saying – “You have 1,440 minutes every single day please take 30 of them for physical activity”

To silence the voice before it drives me loony - almost every weekday I will change into a pair of runners I keep under my desk and take an hour long walk / lunch.

Posted: May 14th, 2010 under Journeying through life, Life & Diabetes.
Comments: 1

Carbs also known as Carbohydrates - are one of the main types of food. Your liver breaks down carbohydrates into glucose (blood sugar). Your body uses this sugar for energy for your cells, tissues and organs.

I grow up not liking meat or chicken, I do not like the textures or taste and this has nothing to do with PETA, it has everything to do with me just not being able to bring myself to eat meat or chicken.

We can say I fell into vegetarianism of sort I do eat fish sometimes mostly when cooked by me because I only like it very, very well done and dry but not burnt. – It’s an acquired skill

I’m not crazy I’m just a little unwell!!

Also, I am deadly allergic (Anaphylaxis) to soy protein. Imagine that! A type 1 diabetic with a wacky autoimmune system, anaphylaxis to soy protein (a scary story for another day) and type 1 diabetes both arrived in my twenties a couple of years apart.

That means carbohydrates are it - fruits, Vegetables and legumes, nuts and grains and of cause insulin. Packaged and pre-prepared foods are carefully scrutinized for hidden soy protein.

I eat lots of home baking and juicing by my sister, Elsa her beets, carrots and ginger juice is totally bolus-worthy and home cooking by me. And as you can see from all these pictures everything is totally bolus-worthy

Posted: May 13th, 2010 under Journeying through life, Life & Diabetes.
Comments: 2

Gentle encouragements along with a voice of reason — honestly, this voice led me to consider the insulin pump, the same insulin pump that for years I had been against. But every once in a while there is a calming voice that innocently says things in passing some of these sayings have been –

“You can adjust your dosage, easily with a pump which is not possible with taking long-acting”.

“It looks like your Basal insulin requirements are not the same all day long”

I remember being sick pre pump days - and that voice again with an innocent comment

“The insulin pump, I guess makes sick day management a little more bearable”

She never preaches or judge just drops useful hints, suggestions and facts here and there.

Thanks to her I am on an Insulin Pump and it has been – for me – the best diabetes management decision I have made so far.

Plus she is the only person that will put up with my after work torturing {photo shots}. What can I say looking through the lens is my stress reliever and we all know that stress is an evil contributor to high blood glucose.

My sister Elsa is my biggest supporter.

Posted: May 12th, 2010 under Journeying through life, Life & Diabetes.
Comments: 5