Music, Lights and Diabetes

Posted on September 7, 2012 by janekdickinson

Have you heard of the Mediterranean Diet? (I prefer to call it the Mediterranean Lifestyle, but no one asked.) This meal plan includes more than just food: exercise is a key component, as well as the importance of enjoying meals with family and friends. It doesn’t mention mood lighting or music, but well-known food researcher Brian Wansink and his colleague published study results showing that music and lighting can decrease the amount of calories people eat in a fast food restaurant.

Do you find that you eat less when you are in a more soothing atmosphere?

If I really think about it, I’d have to say this is true for me. Aside from the fact that like my late grandfather I prefer good lighting when I eat, I do like the idea of a relaxed pace and improved mood. When I’m in a rush, or stressed, or in a busy atmosphere, I am much more likely to overeat and/or choose less healthy options. Now if we can just infuse some Mediterranean cooking into these food establishments, we will be all set.

 

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That Dam Tour

Posted on September 5, 2012 by janekdickinson

Recently my family and I were about to embark on a tour of a dam. There was a sign showing items not allowed on the tour, including a backpack. My son said, “Mom, you can’t take your bag,” and I said, “That’s a backpack, and I just have this small bag.” The employee then pointed to a Christmas card-sized box on the counter and said, “If it fits in that box without being scrunched in, it can go.”

I put my bag in the box, and it hung over the side slightly. “Too big!” the employee said, quickly followed by “Too big!” from another employee. For some reason (we’ll call it PMS) this really set me off, and I said (kind of under my breath) “well I have things in here that I have to have with me, so we probably won’t go.”

It turned out that the tour was going to take an hour and we didn’t have that much time, so we bailed. Before leaving I asked, “Out of curiosity, why can’t a small bag like this go on the tour?” Approximately four employees got all excited explaining how a security officer has to look through every bag and telling me about all the items that people dump out of their bags. I said, “I have diabetes and there are things that I carry…” to which I was met with “Oh, you should have said you have diabetes. If it’s your diabetic (sic) supplies in there, you can take the bag.” And so on. I explained that I would never use diabetes as an excuse, so I would not have told them that’s why I needed the bag.

I’ve given this experience quite a bit of thought, and I think one solution is for the sign to include a statement to the effect that if one’s bag contains medical supplies, it can go through security. That way, I can disclose if I choose to.

Here is a photo of the bag that couldn’t go on the tour, and then could go on the tour, but didn’t. There is a standard greeting card next to the bag to show the size.

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confusing insulin names

Posted on August 29, 2012 by janekdickinson

Insulin names can be confusing, so today I’m hoping to clear up a few things. Insulin was first isolated and extracted in 1921 and made commercially available in 1922. That early insulin was a somewhat fast-acting insulin like our Regular insulin today. In the 1950s protein was added to the insulin to make it work more slowly. This allowed people to take fewer injections and get a longer effect from the insulin.

For the first several decades, insulin came from animals: first cows, then pigs. Cow and pig insulin differs from human insulin by several amino acids (insulin is a protein, which is a chain of amino acids). In the 1980s scientists figured out how to make insulin in the laboratory that is amino acid for amino acid the same as human insulin. We call this “human insulin,” although it does not come from humans.

The two companies who sold insulin in the US at that time were Lilly and Novo Nordisk. Lilly’s version of human insulin was named “Humulin” and Novo Nordisk’s was named “Novolin.” Those names just indicate that it is “human insulin,” while the specific type of insulin could be “Regular” or “NPH” or something else.

In the 1990s scientists figured out how to move amino acids around or substitute one for another, and created insulin “analogs.” The first insulin analog on the market was Humalog from “human insulin analog,” a rapid-acting insulin (works faster than Regular insulin). Then came Novolog and Apidra. Humalog and Humulin are often confused, as well as Novolog and Novolin.

It’s important to know what type of insulin you take (if you do), how it works, and when it’s action is peaking. Check with your health care provider if you have any questions and always check to be sure you get the right insulin.

 

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Change is possible; change can be good

Posted on August 27, 2012 by janekdickinson

It’s so easy to get stuck in a rut – especially when it comes to managing a chronic condition. I used to work with a lot of parents of kids with type 1 diabetes, and I remember many conversations that included, “that’s not the way we do it.” I know that I too have certain ways of doing things, and sometimes I have struggled to try a new idea or a new way of doing something.

The great thing about humans is that we can change. We don’t have to stay the same way or do the same things forever. We can choose to change, take a different viewpoint, adjust our attitude, try something new. And if we find out that the new way doesn’t fit so well, we can choose to go back to the old way.

In terms of diabetes, I’ve been slow to try some new things. And some of them are pretty laughable to people who are currently trying every new-fangled thing that comes out. It took me forever to inject quickly. I was a slow injecter for years. It wasn’t until I was pregnant and injecting all the time that I finally tried injecting quickly – and it really does hurt less. Everyone who had told me that over the years was right! Another example is short needles. I used longer (regular length) needles until about a year ago. Crazy, I know, but I truly believed they worked better for me. It took a skin thickness test at a conference exhibit to show me that short needles would get the job done.

Where have you gotten stuck in your life? What changes were you slow to make?

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athletes with diabetes

Posted on August 24, 2012 by janekdickinson

Do you consider yourself an athlete? I don’t consider myself an athlete. Despite the fact that three times a week since December 3rd (but who’s keeping track?) I’ve been doing things with muscles that have probably never been awake. I’ve been doing weights and reps and rounds like you wouldn’t believe (ok, now I’m getting a little dramatic).

I played on many sports teams from 4th through 12th grades, but I never considered myself an athlete. I even participated in a road race (fundraiser) once, which I walked. Anyway, from time to time I have fantasized about doing something more challenging like a triathlon or half-marathon. Have you? Have you ever wondered how in the world you would manage diabetes and complete something like that?

There is a wonderful group called TeamWILD (We Inspire Life with Diabetes), and they help people with diabetes realize their athletic dreams. The really cool part is that anyone, even non-athletes like me, can work with this group and accomplish amazing things. Check them out!

What is your athletic dream?

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Diabetes Breakthroughs

Posted on August 22, 2012 by janekdickinson

I am constantly in a quandary about whether to focus on managing and living well with diabetes vs. finding a way to eradicate diabetes. Over the years I’ve leaned toward letting the scientists and fundraisers work on the latter while I focus on the former.

Reading about a new gadget that could measure glucose in saliva or tears makes me ponder this further. My first thought was if people are working so hard on improving management methods, why aren’t they focusing on preventing diabetes in the first place? But then my head went back to, why shouldn’t we have the best possible gadgets for managing diabetes while it’s still around?

I don’t think it’s a conspiracy to keep diabetes around and make lots of money; I think different people are concentrating on different things. Those who work in biotech are using their skills and resources to improve diabetes management, and that’s a good thing right now. I hope they all get together and collaborate – maybe as a team they can figure this whole thing out. But just like everything else these things happen gradually, uncovering one layer at a time.

In the meantime, I will continue to do my part to live well and help others do the same – starting with improving people’s experience at diagnosis. I will still be gathering one words, so please contribute if you haven’t already.

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One Word for Diabetes Diagnosis

Posted on August 20, 2012 by janekdickinson

Ok, here’s the deal. I’m gathering information about people’s experiences at diagnosis (of diabetes). Please respond to this post with one word that describes the way you felt when you were diagnosed. If you were too young to remember and if you can ask a family member who was there, please respond with their one word (and let us know whose word it is). If you have a child(ren) with diabetes, please share one word that describes how you felt when they were diagnosed. If you feel so inclined, you are welcome to explain your one word. But you don’t have to.

I guess it’s only fair for me to share my one word. After giving it some thought, I came up with nurse. Two nurses made a huge impact on me during my hospital stay (and beyond). The first was Sue, who took care of me on the “ward,” and the second was Sheila, who was my “diabetes teaching nurse.” That was before Certified Diabetes Educators, but she probably became one later on. Sue is the reason I’m a nurse today.

Thanks for your help with this!

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Valid thoughts

Posted on August 17, 2012 by janekdickinson

For a long time I’ve felt called to work with people who are newly diagnosed with diabetes (in addition to advocating for children and older people – I guess I’ll stay busy). A while back I decided that I should probably gear my blog more toward newly diagnosed folks, in order to help people benefit from a positive approach right out of the diabetes gate.

I’ve discovered that many new websites and projects are cropping up around new diagnosis and positive approaches: reassurance that everything is going to be ok, you can still do the things you want to do, and so on. And this is wonderful! I’ve also noticed that most of the ones I’ve found are geared toward people with type 1 diabetes, so let the record show that all these shiny, happy messages go for those with type 2 too!

And then I read a lot of quotes from people with diabetes about how frustrated, angry, upset they get with diabetes, and I wonder if I sound like I’m discounting people’s feelings when I write things like this. I hope not, because I do believe feelings are valid. My deal is that I don’t want to be a victim. I don’t want to waste time getting bogged down in negative thoughts/feelings, because they tend to keep me from being productive or moving forward.

So I acknowledge that there are down times, and that there are frustrations and even anger. I encourage all of us to use those times/feelings to somehow benefit our cause (I’m thinking of angry {in a good way} moms and dads who are out there raising money for research) or else move past the negative and get on with the positive as soon as possible. It’s got to be better for our cells in the long-run.

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When you’re diagnosed with diabetes

Posted on August 15, 2012 by janekdickinson

When you’re diagnosed with diabetes you have a choice. You can complain, whine, vent, despair. You can be down, feel guilty, beat yourself up, give up. Or you can take it on. You can choose to have a positive attitude and do what it takes to get healthy, or as healthy as you can get. You can exercise and choose healthy foods – most of the time. And accept yourself and your choices when you don’t.

When you’re diagnosed with diabetes you can put the past where it belongs: in the past. You can accept where you are and prepare for a fabulous future. You can make changes through your choices.

When you’re diagnosed with diabetes you can work with health care providers who empower you, answer your questions, provide good/helpful information and support you. You can stay away from people/providers who judge, blame, shame, question, or make you feel bad in any way. You can find support and encouragement from others who have diabetes.

When you’re diagnosed with diabetes you can be the best person you were always meant to be. You just happen to know a little more about something you never wanted to know about. You have an opportunity to take better care of yourself and feel better than you ever have before. You even have an opportunity to help others with or without diabetes – maybe you’ll help someone prevent themselves from ever getting it.

When you’re diagnosed with diabetes you are amazing.

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Insulin in Bed

Posted on August 13, 2012 by janekdickinson

When I was a kid, the diabetes mentality was all about “can” and “can’t.” That hasn’t completely gone away, in fact, now we probably hear even more “shoulds.” Regardless, there were many things kids with diabetes were told they “can’t” do: eat certain things, go certain places, participate in certain activities, have babies, and so on. And it’s all craziness (I substituted “craziness” for another word).

One thing I always wanted as a kid was breakfast in bed. I’m not sure any of the kids in our family were ever treated to that, but my thinking was, “I can’t have breakfast in bed because I have to get out of bed to take insulin (immediately preceded by peeing in a cup, etc.). Later on, I’m guessing it was when I was home from college on a break, I started asking my sister for “insulin in bed.” Sometimes she would oblige and go to the bathroom, get my stuff (after I told her what to bring) and bring it to me in bed.

My daughter has since brought me “insulin in bed” a couple times (and even breakfast in bed at least once). There really is something magical about it, and I highly recommend the experience. Most importantly, let the record show that I can have both insulin and breakfast in bed. As usual, it’s all about choices.

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