Out of the shadows for strength

Posted on August 5, 2020 by janekdickinson

strengthThis made me crawl out of the shadows and write again today.

In case you didn’t click on it, this is a post from the American Diabetes Association about a presentation at their Scientific Sessions held this past June. Dr. Hilliard is studying strengths in people with diabetes – specifically teens. Yes, you read that right. Someone is putting “strengths” and “teens” and “diabetes” in the same sentence.

How often do we focus on strengths in diabetes (let alone in teens with diabetes)? Instead, we more often hear discussions on weaknesses or deficits. We hear conversations about numbers and benchmarks and “control” and “adherence,” rather than what’s going right or going well.

A strengths-based approach is the theme of the language movement in diabetes. The point is to focus on what people are doing at all, or doing well, and figuring out how those skills and attitudes can be applied in other, more challenging areas. What a simple, yet amazing concept!

So thank you, to all those people, scientists, and clinicians out there who are focusing on strengths. Let’s spread the word about how important this approach is until it’s the rule and not the exception.

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Checking In

Posted on June 11, 2020 by janekdickinson

It’s been a while since I last posted anything. I haven’t felt inspired to write during the whole pandemic situation. More than that, though, it didn’t seem like there was much to say that hadn’t already been said.

I have no desire to write about COVID and diabetes – you can find that in multiple places already, there is no shortage of reading material on the subject, and I’m sure there’s a lot more to come. So I just stopped writing. In some ways it’s been a nice break. Yet, as I have said and written may times before, there’s no break from diabetes, so I’m back. Just to check in and say hi.

How are you? What are you doing to stay on top of your diabetes management during these very challenging times? Do you have the support and information you need? Have you experienced telehealth yet? Are you keeping a sense of humor through all of it? Are you taking care of yourself? Are you getting outside?

I was talking to someone yesterday, who said, “where there’s a will, there’s a way.” And then he said that people with diabetes could have that as a mantra (or something to that effect). People with diabetes are creative, strong-willed, and independent. Maybe not all of us were born that way, yet managing diabetes on a daily basis gives us the skills to manage a lot (sometimes with only a little) and keep pushing through.

I hope you are doing ok today, and I hope you are finding the will and the way to move forward and keep working at all of it. You got this.

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Patient or Person

Posted on March 24, 2020 by janekdickinson

I am an advocate for referring to me and others with diabetes as a person, or people, first. That’s been discussed in the context of not calling people “diabetics,” and also in terms of using the word “patient.”

I started to notice that someone was either a “provider” or a “patient.” This bugged me on a couple levels because I’m both. More important, though, I don’t like being referred to as a “patient” unless I’m in a clinical setting. Literally, if I’m in a health care professional’s office, I’m a patient. No problem. If I’m outside of that setting I am a person.

Originally the word “patient” meant “one who suffers.” When we think about the history of health care, this makes sense. Now many people live with chronic conditions they manage on their own every day. We don’t suffer, nor do we want anyone to assume we do or put us in a victim role (those living with the disease/condition can certainly determine for themselves if they are suffering).

So then do we insist on removing “patient” altogether because of this historical meaning? I’m OK with being referred to as a “patient” (again, in a clinical context). I don’t suffer, and I don’t find health care professionals in general treat me as if I do. It’s really up to me to communicate that I don’t suffer through my actions and my words.

The question of whether “patients” are now considered “customers” or “clients” is yet another debate – one I’ll admit I’ve kind of avoided getting into. I do see both sides of the discussion. While I don’t want health care to be solely focused on business/money, I do see that customer service is paramount in health care settings.

Could some smart person please come up with a new word to replace all of them?

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Diabetes and the Immune System

Posted on March 16, 2020 by janekdickinson

This is an uncertain, unprecedented time for everyone. Those of living with diabetes may have more questions, concerns, and fears than others. We’ve been told all our diabetes lives that we have a higher risk for illness because our immune system is compromised.

Consistently elevated (high) blood glucose levels, or blood glucose levels that bounce around a lot can have a negative impact on our ability to fight off sicknesses like colds (viruses), bacterial, and sometimes fungal infections. COVID-19 is the disease caused by the Coronavirus that has been spreading around the world since December of 2019.

I will admit that as someone living with diabetes I’ve been under the impression that my risk is higher for having a worse experience or outcomes if I contract COVID-19. I’ve been sticking with my usual approach of

  1. get good (and lots of) sleep
  2. wash hands and don’t touch people or public places
  3. keep blood glucose levels in my target range as much of the time as possible

And I just got some good news. My endocrinologist’s office sent a notice that basically says people with type 1 diabetes are not at higher risk of bad outcomes just by virtue of having type 1 diabetes. We are not at higher risk for getting COVID-19 in the first place. If we do the things mentioned above (the sleep part I added, but seriously, how can it hurt?) we protect ourselves. They also provided this link to the JDRF site where they explain this much better than I can.

PS Stress doesn’t help anything. Nor does panic. So maybe add some soothing music, deep breathing, meditation, prayer – whatever works best to calm you and give you comfort and peace. We will get through this.

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Overwhelmed may not be a choice

Posted on March 10, 2020 by janekdickinson

I read a blog post titled “overwhelmed is a choice,” that sat with me for a few days. I consider myself incredibly fortunate to have a relatively stable management plan and excellent health insurance. Life, in general, can be overwhelming, though, and diabetes is one more thing to take care of.

I can’t thinking about how overwhelming diabetes is or can be for those who don’t have coverage, were recently diagnosed and are climbing a steep learning curve, just started a new plan (technology, etc.), or have other complicating factors in their lives.

Yet is overwhelmed a choice? Can we simply turn it off and be fine? I’d say there are circumstances where that may be possible and others where it may not. I’m all for positive attitudes, and I do believe that our attitudes can be adjusted regardless of the situation (I find myself doing a lot of adjusting). Anyway, just something I’ve been thinking about.

To all those who are overwhelmed, I do hope you have the support and resources to get into a better situation. I hope you can maintain a positive attitude and persevere through the hard times. I hope you know there are many people with diabetes out here in cyberspace who are rooting for you and willing to help wherever/however possible.

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Please ask.

Posted on February 13, 2020 by janekdickinson

I read a story about Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor. She was injecting insulin in a restaurant bathroom and another patron saw her. Later, Sotomayor heard the woman say she was a drug addict. The justice explained to the woman that she has diabetes and was taking insulin, which keeps her alive. She then suggested that instead of assuming the worst, she just ask someone if she has questions in the future.

This experience eventually inspired Ms. Sotomayor to publish a children’s book titled, Just Ask! Be Different, Be Brave, Be You. Here’s a link to the story above and information about the book.

What an important message for all of us. If we have questions (about anything, not just diabetes), let’s just ask before assuming bad things, or worse yet, writing or saying them publicly!

 

 

 

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Have insulin; will party

Posted on February 6, 2020 by janekdickinson

cupcake JaneBirthdays can be fun. On my birthday this year I started thinking about cake and frosting (I think it was the dancing cupcake with my face superimposed on it that a friend texted to me that got it started). I reminisced about all those birthday parties I attended as a kid when the child’s mother would slice the frosting off my piece of cake, or not offer me cake at all.

I remember post-DCCT, when we learned about carbohydrate counting and began teaching families how to “work it in.” For the first time (well, maybe not across the board) kids with diabetes started eating cake (with frosting – gasp!) at birthday parties.

One of the challenges of living with diabetes is the comments and looks we get from people when we “have our cake.” The goal is to balance what we eat with what we do and how much insulin we take. We aim to make healthy food choices most of the time and “work in” fun things like cake & frosting now and then. Isn’t that what everyone – with or without diabetes – strives for?

Those of us who lived through the “forbidden foods” years of diabetes will probably always cringe when people see us eat a piece of cake. My hope for today’s children with diabetes, though, is that eating cake will be part of a healthy, happy approach to managing diabetes and living life. Maybe they’ll refuse the cake because they simply don’t want it, and maybe they’ll have seconds.

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It’s character building…

Posted on January 31, 2020 by janekdickinson

Just read an awesome blog post about parents of kids with special needs. I am stealing this line from the author (Heather McCain – thanks, Heather), because it fits in so many contexts, including diabetes:

Strength is BUILT. Knowledge is ACQUIRED. Endurance is LEARNED.

These three characteristics help anyone through any situation. Diabetes is no different. We build strength by practicing the skills to manage diabetes, making mistakes, getting it right every now and then, finding a support system (whether that’s friends, family, faith, health care professionals, or others with diabetes). We acquire knowledge by asking questions, working with experts, sharing our own expertise and experiences and getting feedback/ideas, reading, learning from mistakes, making changes, trying new things.

And endurance comes from all of this over and over and over – day in and day out. As long as we focus on building and growing and using what we know to manage diabetes so that life comes first and diabetes fits in. And endurance leads to hope.

And all of it builds character. We’ve got some great characters in this diabetes club of ours!

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Customer Service is dead

Posted on January 23, 2020 by janekdickinson

What happened to customer service?

Here’s my PSA (opportunity): If you want loyal customers, who will spread the word about your product, have amazing customer service. Don’t make us look it up online if we’ve gone to the effort to call or “chat” with you. When we ask questions, answer them. Even if you’re afraid we won’t like the answer. It’s better than beating around the bush and not answering our questions (or having us think you don’t know anything – I mean – the answer). We get really frustrated when we’re trying to work and we have to spend hours on the phone calling you. Make it quick, easy, and even fun!

I do realize that Generations Y and Z are more likely to find their answers on the Internet and not call you; however, there are still some of us who prefer to speak to a human being. It’s always nice when that human treats us right.

Hopefully customer service isn’t dead: it’s just sleeping.

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Acceptance

Posted on January 16, 2020 by janekdickinson

coolnsmart-21922The back drop to the whole language movement is acceptance. It’s time to move beyond “meeting people where they are” and start accepting people where they are.

I’ve heard horror stories about people who’ve gone to a provider reporting pain or other problems and been told: “that’s what happens when you don’t take care of yourself.” Let’s change that to “tell me more about what’s going on and we’ll see what we can do.”

We often hear that for people with diabetes it’s all about balance (in fact, I have a book with that as the subtitle). For health professionals who work in diabetes, it’s all about acceptance. It really doesn’t help to judge, because that won’t get the provider or the patient anywhere. Acceptance is the only approach that makes sense. It opens up the possibility of choices or options, which gives people hope. And I’ve mentioned on several occasions that without hope we have nothing.

While no one can change what happened in the past, acceptance can shape or redirect the future. May all diabetes professionals take the opportunity to be guided by acceptance; may all people with diabetes feel accepted.

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