Life in general is a beautiful, complicated, sometimes messy thing, so when you toss type 1 diabetes into the mix, life can become extremely overwhelming. A normal, healthy life with diabetes can be achieved with a lot of patience, perseverance, hard work, a healthy mindset, and knowing how/when to make adjustments when dealing with different life situations.
Life with Diabetes
Read more to see how I've maneuvered through different aspects of life with type 1 diabetes!
Family, Friends, Coworkers, & Medical Teams
- All About Relationships -
From the time of diagnosis, type 1 diabetes not only affects the individual diagnosed but also, the people that love and care for that individual. Depending on the age of diagnosis, the experience and impact most likely will be different (not saying one situation is better or worse). Someone that requires care from a parent or caretaker will have a completely different experience from someone that can tend to their diabetes on their own.
Managing diabetes takes a village so when you think about relationships, it is also important to think about your diabetes healthcare team (primary care physician, endocrinologist, certified diabetes educator, dietitian, etc.). These are the people that will help to develop treatment plans, ensure that you are maintaining good health, and ultimately, be alongside you for the long haul. Best piece of advice I have received when it comes to my diabetes healthcare team is to be my own advocate. Find a team that works best with you and if one doesn’t work out, there are other options out there. Don’t settle for a team that you don’t think will be beneficial for you in the long run!
Surrounding yourself with good/supportive relationships will help make managing your diabetes feel like a team effort. This will make diabetes management a little less stressful, knowing that you have good backing behind you. You should always remember that you are not alone, and you do not have to fight this battle on your own. Find your tribe!
The Journey to Motherhood
My journey to becoming a first time mom was not an easy one, but one that I would do a thousand times over. Navigating motherhood with a chronic condition demands significant mental and physical prep. Despite all the preparation in the old, managing pregnancy alongside type 1 diabetes will present daily surprises.
Wining & Dining with Diabetes
You CAN eat that - With caution and moderation! One of the biggest misconceptions with type 1 diabetes is that your diet is totally restricted and that you can never eat sweets again. While having type 1 diabetes does require modifications in what and how much you consume, it does not have to deprive your diet of foods you truly love. Everyone's body breaks down foods and drinks differently, so it is important to know the workings of your body in order to understand the adjustments you need to make!
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For me, it has been about trial and error, learning and understanding how my own body reacts to certain foods and drinks, and knowing when and how to adjust my insulin doses. It is definitely not an exact science and as frustrating as it is, what may have worked for a prior day may not work today.
Working Out with Diabetes
Working out and managing healthy, stable blood sugar levels can be like an Olympic sport (..okay I may be exaggerating, but sometimes it feels like I am in my own Olympic games when dealing with my diabetes). Anything and everything will affect your blood sugar levels, so it really is all about what you eat, when you eat, when you work out, and what workout you are doing. Easy, right?
Well..it won't be easy but with lots of practice, patience, and perseverance, you can get a good handle on working out with your diabetes. It won't always be perfect and there will definitely be some challenges along the way, but it can all be made possible with the right amount of vigilance!
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Never forget to listen to your body and know when to stop. If you need to stop mid-workout then do so, and pick back up later or the next day. Don't ever get down on yourself because you weren't able to finish a workout. I have been there with extreme frustration but I have taken that frustration to my next workout to make it better than the workout that was interrupted.​
Going to College with Diabetes
I was diagnosed about 3 months prior to attending college. Going away to college is scary enough but add type 1 diabetes and it makes going away 4-hours away to college absolutely terrifying. Add onto that participating in a D1 college sport, and you have a mixed bag of excitement, confusion, terror, and a slight fear of fitting in.
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Good news...I made it out of college safe and sound! I cheered for a Big 10 school, studied abroad in Italy, made the Deans list, met a lot of amazing people, and truly had the time of my life. Type 1 diabetes had nothing on me!
I want to use this platform to share my experiences and hopefully help those that are seeking advice, guidance, or just someone that they could relate to..and boy do I have some stories to share!
Diabetes in the Workplace
When thinking about diabetes in the workplace, I think about all the factors that I personally encounter that affect my blood sugar levels. These include commuting, stress due to tight deadlines/heavy workload/etc., long hours, lack of physical activity during the day (most of my day is spent sitting at a desk), coworkers bringing in treats for celebrations, and the list goes on and on! During the work week, I try to control as much I can by sticking to a routine and also, being ready to shift and adjust when the work factors come into play and mess with my blood sugar levels!
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Besides the actual management of type 1 diabetes in the workplace, it is important to educate the people you work closely with on your situation. Providing awareness and educating your coworkers will help the team to be prepared in the case of an emergency, but also, just to be understanding when you are not feeling well due to bad blood sugar levels, super moody, or what have it. People are willing to listen to you and more interested in learning about type 1 diabetes than you would think.
Traveling with Diabetes
Traveling has always been my favorite antidote. No matter the destination, I always find traveling to a new place or even revisiting an old place, rejuvenating and a chance to start fresh. I love the quote,"We travel not to escape life but for life not to escape us -Anonymous," because we all need some time away from the hustle and bustle of life to check in with ourselves.
I have never viewed having type 1 diabetes as an obstacle from preventing me from traveling the world. As with anything, travel is possible with type 1 diabetes, it just requires some extra precautions and measures to be taken.​
The Changing Seasons & Diabetes
The change in seasons represents a time of transition - Transition in weather conditions, seasonal allergies, recreational activities, holidays, and moods, all in which could affect insulin needs. Insulin doses may need to be adjusted to adapt to the specific time of year.
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Extreme hot and cold weather conditions and of course, the beloved holidays of Thanksgiving & Christmas, tend to hit me the hardest. While it may be challenging to navigate through the seasons, it is not impossible. It is about understanding how your body reacts and knowing how to adapt/adjust to the changes. ​
Expect the Unexcpted
With diabetes and with life in general, the unexpected is inevitable. While we can't necessarily 'prepare' for the unexpected, we can adjust our thinking to expect the unexpected. It is not a matter of if it will happen, it is a matter of when it will happen. Adjusting our mindsets can help us mentally embrace for impact by understanding that life is not always going to be a smooth ride and may require a new course of action.
For events that hit abruptly and come completely out of left field, well, these are a little more difficult to navigate through and will take some time to figure out. Take Covid-19, for example. This is something that no one was prepared for or were truly ready for. We are all working through uncharted territory and learning day by day how to navigate and adjust to a different way of life.
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Life has thrown its fair share of curve balls my way. While I can't say it has been easy to navigate, experiences have taught me and continuously teach me how to adjust. Check back for posts on life's unexpected moments!
Disclaimer: I am not a medical expert, nor do I claim to be! I am just a person living with type 1 diabetes sharing my experiences and knowledge with others. Please consult with your doctor before making any changes to your diabetes management.