Routine Diabetes

Posted on October 3, 2012 by janekdickinson

Routine: do you love it or avoid it? I saw this question posted and got curious. I would consider myself a routine person. I am the most productive when I follow a routine. I definitely have the most success managing my diabetes when I follow a routine. And then there are days when I throw routine to the wind. Maybe that’s how I stay sane. Maybe that’s balance.

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Definition of Trust

Posted on October 1, 2012 by janekdickinson

I was asked to come up with my personal definition of trust, and while giving it some thought I went immediately to diabetes. While trust plays a role in all aspects of my life, I thought about trusting someone with my diabetes – and that is not easy for me. What I discovered is that for me trust is peace. That may be a cop out definition, but it’s what I felt in my gut when I thought of the few people I would trust to take care of me diabetes-wise. The opposite of trust, for me, causes a knotted up, uncomfortable feeling in my gut – not peaceful at all.

How would you define trust?

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Shoes and Diabetes

Posted on September 28, 2012 by janekdickinson

Last week there was a discussion about feet and eyes on Diabetes Social Media Advocacy. One particular question came up that I think is an important one: Why do I have to wear closed shoes all the time? 

First of all, you don’t have to – that would be your choice. But the reason people with diabetes are encouraged to wear closed shoes (along with checking feet regularly) is to protect their feet. Closed shoes typically provide more support than open shoes (but not always!), so they support the structure of the foot. Also, closed shoes protect the feet from cuts – but only if we make sure there are no foreign objects in the shoes.

People with diabetes have a higher risk of foot problems: high blood glucose can lead to decreased circulation, which means the blood doesn’t get down to the feet as fast, so a cut or injury doesn’t heal as fast or as well. Managing blood glucose is the most important step in protecting our feet, and then protecting our feet from injury in the first place.

Going barefoot increases the risk of cuts/injuries as does wearing open shoes. In reality, however, we all go barefoot at times, and most of us wear flip flops and the like. I personally wear closed shoes to work, work out, and whenever I lift something heavy. That last one was basically ingrained in my head as a kid, though it cracks me up because I realize that the shoes are not going to prevent injury if that heavy item lands on my foot.

I think the most important thing is to be aware of our feet: take care of your feet so they can carry you around for a long, long time.

 

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Distraction meets Diabetes

Posted on September 26, 2012 by janekdickinson

I think every parent – heck, every adult in this overstimulated world of ours – has some level of adult ADD. “I’m just going to send one more message,” “I just have to check facebook one more time” and so on. And sometimes diabetes gets neglected in all the distraction.

Here’s an example: I took my lunchtime insulin and then sat down to “read one more post” on the discussion board of a course I’m teaching. Before I knew it, I had read five posts and responded to three. And I still hadn’t made my lunch.

I ran into the kitchen (I’m making this dramatic) and drank my fat-free milk first (fat-free milk works fast to raise the blood glucose and this way I didn’t consume extra calories that weren’t part of my lunch), while cooking up a nice combination-leftover-veggie-extravaganza . While my meal was cooking I even went back into the office and drafted this post! I have perfected distraction!

At any rate, lunch was magnificent, but the take home message is to slow down and watch out for excess distraction. And in an effort not to make everything about insulin – if you manage diabetes without insulin, it’s still an important message. Less distraction means more focus – on the things that matter at the time that they matter. Ok, now go back to whatever you were doing.

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More Veggies Less Pressure

Posted on September 24, 2012 by janekdickinson

I’ve often heard that kids will eat what you put in front of them. I think it’s pretty true for adults too. There’s at least one study that found pressuring kids to eat healthy can increase obesity later on. Instead we can make healthy food choices readily available and lead by example.

I know that when I cut up fruit and/or veggies and put them out with a yummy (healthy) dip, that’s what the kids eat. I also know that it’s way easier to have packaged snacks around, and let the kids fend for themselves.

So then I’m back at “everything in moderation.” Some of the time I prepare and put out healthy snacks, and some of the time they fend for themselves. It’s just as important not to pressure ourselves. What do you think?

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Invisible Illness Week

Posted on September 21, 2012 by janekdickinson

September is a busy month! I just learned that there was an “Invisible Illness Week” this month. Diabetes is an invisible illness. Although diabetes-related complications can sometimes be visible, unless someone knows we have diabetes, it’s not obvious from the outside.

One of the downsides to an invisible illness is staying motivated to take care of it. Diabetes can be invisible to the owner, too! I think about all the things I want to do in my life, and that’s what motivates me to take care of myself. Some of those things are immediate and others are down the road. How do you stay motivated when you don’t see or feel the effects of diabetes?

An interesting thing about social media is that we put our diabetes “out there” by becoming involved in all these conversations. On the one hand, it’s great to have support and camaraderie. On the other hand, it’s nice to keep to myself, too. I make an effort to find balance between being “out there” and being “invisible.” How do you balance the two extremes (if you do)?

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Inspiration

Posted on September 19, 2012 by janekdickinson

September is Health Activist Inspiration Month, according to a newsletter I received. They ask the question: What inspires you? Good question. Inspiration can lead to motivation.

I’m inspired by blood glucose levels in a range where I want to see them. For instance, going to bed at 93 and waking up at 91. That inspires me both emotionally and physically. I feel energized, happy and ready to take on the day. And it actually happened recently! Instead of resetting the alarm, or hitting snooze, I got up and stayed up, which then inspired me to get some things done. Inspiration begets inspiration.

Other things inspire me too, especially people who have had great adversity – health situations, financial situations, crises of whatever sort – and not only lived through it, but got something out of it and thrived. Inspiration provides perspective.

Maybe every month could be Inspiration Month. What inspires you?

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Balance Awareness Week

Posted on September 17, 2012 by janekdickinson

September 16-22 is Balance Awareness Week. I briefly saw this mentioned in an email that came across my inbox last week, and it immediately made me think of my own goal of balance. Granted, Balance Awareness Week is about vestibular disorders, and I in no way want to minimize that, but rather build on it.

There’s a lot of talk about balance out there. I’ve heard people say it’s impossible to find balance – we’re always leaning one way or the other. I’ve heard others say that it’s impossible to find balance with diabetes. I guess I don’t say any of it is impossible, but more important, I say that I’m always seeking balance.

By working toward the goal of balance in my life, I am much more likely to have moments of balance. And to me, those moments are peaceful and fulfilling and worth the effort. I’m going to work on balance (again) this week, in honor of Balance Awareness Week.

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Diabetes and UTIs

Posted on September 14, 2012 by janekdickinson

Not a fun topic, but an important one, and a good reason to manage your blood glucose level: people with diabetes have a higher chance of developing urinary tract infections (UTIs). If you’ve had one in the past, you know they are not fun.

Elevated blood glucose creates a breeding ground for bacteria, and a UTI is a situation where bacteria grows in the urinary tract. Urine is made in the kidneys and then travels through the ureters into the bladder, through the urethra and out of the body. The urethra, bladder, ureters, and kidneys make up the urinary tract.

Symptoms of a UTI include burning when urinating; feeling the need to urinate frequently, but not much comes out; abdominal pain; and cloudy or smelly urine.

Besides being uncomfortable, UTIs, if left untreated, can spread to the kidneys. And kidney infections can be very serious. The best way to prevent a UTI is to drink plenty of water (if your urine is light yellow or clear, you are well hydrated), manage diabetes to keep blood glucose levels in a safe and healthy range, and urinate regularly – do not hold it.

So there you have it!

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I know what I need to do…

Posted on September 10, 2012 by janekdickinson

And I just need to choose to do it!

How many times have we said these words? “I know what I need to do.” Diabetes educators hear them often. Unless they are brand new at diabetes, people often don’t need explanations about checking blood glucose levels, exercising, or eating vegetables. They just need to make the choice. I’m certainly no different.

Last week I was thinking about how the school year has started and almost every morning I’ve been dragging; getting a slow start. It occurred to me (not for the first time) that it’s my choice to go to bed on time, get up on time, and get started on time. And last night I made that choice, and so far I’m on a better track this morning.

This doesn’t mean that I’ll keep it up forever. And the nice thing is that I can “start over” as many times as necessary – for the rest of my life. But it’s also nice to know that I’m in charge of making things work smoothly, and that I can do it.

Here’s to a productive day, and to Ben Franklin, who was really onto something with that whole “early to bed, early to rise” idea.

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