Treadmills are quite handy

Posted on April 16, 2012 by janekdickinson

While walking on the treadmill this morning, I started thinking about the different uses for a treadmill. Obviously, it’s meant for exercise. But in addition to walking or running, one can really get a lot of thinking done on the treadmill. I sometimes come up with great ideas on the treadmill. And then I have to stop the treadmill, get a pad and pen, and write down my thoughts before I forget. I should keep a pad and pen next to the treadmill, I know.

Some people who work at home use treadmill desks. I just learned that the treadmill desk was invented by a physician at the Mayo Clinic! I first heard about the treadmill desk from a nurse at a conference. She works in telehealth from home and uses a treadmill desk. She literally walks for up to eight hours a day.

Besides thinking and working on the treadmill, it’s a great place to pray or meditate. Turn on some music – or not – and you can really maximize the solitude. Or you can use treadmill time to listen to a motivational speaker or a book on CD. Some people strategically place a television in front of the treadmill.

Finally, I read a post on facebook by a friend whose family had given her a treadmill as a birthday/Christmas present. She thanked them for the new “clothesline.” If nothing else, a treadmill is a great way to dry clothes or store things off the floor. (You just don’t get the health benefits.)

Enjoy your treadmill today – you never know what you’ll get out of it!

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Dream Day

Posted on April 14, 2012 by janekdickinson

I’m reposting an old blog post today. The prompt is to write about my dream day. I hiked up a mountain today, which was dreamy (sort of), but it would have been a lot more fun without diabetes. Here it is:

Tudiabetes.org has started a monthly series with questions for blogs, discussions, etc. One of the questions this month is What would you do with a diabetes-free day?

I thought about this question while I was on the treadmill this morning. I really had to give it some time, as I don’t often ponder this sort of topic. Of course I started out thinking about the obvious eat-everything-that’s-not-nailed-down answer. This really doesn’t appeal to me, however, because I know I would still feel disgusting even if my blood glucose was normal.

Instead I came up with these two things: 1) I would engage in some type of endurance athletic event and 2) I would travel in a foreign place for the day.

I chose these two activities because I want to do them, yet am somewhat afraid to do them. I don’t need to participate in an ultra-marathon or anything like that, but I do have secret fantasies about long hikes and other strenuous activities. I also love the thought of traveling to interesting and exotic places. I know that I can do these things; I also know that managing diabetes during them, while very possible, would be a challenge and a hassle, so not having to deal with that would be nice.

What would you do if you had a day without diabetes?

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Diabetes Lifeline

Posted on April 13, 2012 by janekdickinson

Today’s prompt is to write about the ten things I couldn’t live without. This will be short. I obviously can’t live without insulin.

I thought about putting my kids, but I realize that despite being unthinkable, I would have to figure out a way to go on if I didn’t have them. And that’s about all I can write about that.

All the “stuff” is, indeed, just “stuff.” And I can live without it. Seriously. So until there’s a cure, I literally can’t live without insulin, and that’s it. Maybe I wasn’t supposed to take it so literally, but that’s what I’ve got today.

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Diabetes in the Mirror

Posted on April 12, 2012 by janekdickinson

This morning I looked in the mirror and I saw an older version of a younger me. It’s funny because I don’t necessarily feel older (except when I’m tired), and I sometimes still act young (immature?).

I loved turning forty, because it felt like I was finally an adult. Personally and professionally, I felt better equipped to express myself and to go after what is important to me (maybe not all the time). My 35th anniversary with diabetes (which happened at 42) was significant for me. I still had the energy to contemplate 35 more (and then some).

Looking in the mirror, I wonder what I’ll look like in 10, 20, 50 (?) more years. I don’t feel as if I look any different from when I was 20, yet how do I look to others? To my kids? Recently I saw a photo of myself when my first child was a baby. That’s when I realized my look has changed. I looked like a kid!

I’ve gotten comments about diabetes making me look young, and I know people with diabetes who look young. Physiologically, it doesn’t make sense for diabetes to make us look young, since what’s happening in our bodies when our blood glucose is elevated should actually make us age faster. Consolation prize?

I’ve pondered whether I’ll color my hair when the grays start taking over. Or will I buy skin products that claim to reverse aging? I don’t really know, but as of right now I’m good with the process (as long as it stays gradual).

Looking in the mirror has me thinking about aging. Thinking about aging makes me think about aging with diabetes. What will happen when menopause really hits? Will I continue exercising forever? It’s good to think about these things, but I’m not going to dwell on them. I’m going to live in the present and enjoy.

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Local Diabetes Support

Posted on April 11, 2012 by janekdickinson

This post is my April entry in the DSMA Blog Carnival.  If you’d like to participate too, you can get all of the information at http://diabetessocmed.com/2012/april-dsma-blog-carnival-2/    

Who needs support? I don’t need support. As the local diabetes educator, I came to the conclusion that people don’t need support when time after time no one (or only a few) showed up for the “support group” events I planned. Then I got an idea: I changed the name to “discussion group.” Still not many came, and eventually I stopped trying.

I am fortunate to have been involved with diabetes camp, which is the Mecca for diabetes support. When I entered the Diabetes Online Community a little over a year ago, I discovered that it’s like camp online. My biggest diabetes support still comes from camp friends whom I can call anytime. We don’t even have to talk about diabetes – we just get it in the context of whatever is going on.

I have read many twitter posts about “meet-ups” that have left me feeling envious and somewhat lonely, because I live in the middle of nowhere and can’t join these fun groups. I have thought about getting together with the small group of women who have type 1 in our town. I’ve considered starting an exercise group or just getting together for a glass of wine. But I haven’t done it. Probably because everyone is so busy, and I’m afraid it won’t work out. I also think I avoid doing this because it would require focusing on diabetes and enough of my life is focused on diabetes already. Hmmm.

That’s lame of me, though, and I am going to give it a try.

 

 

 

 

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Diabetes in College

Posted on April 10, 2012 by janekdickinson

Dear Jane (at 16),

You are having an amazing time in high school (Go, Falcons!). You are studying hard, playing hard, working, and involved in extracurriculars. You are beginning to think about college, because your sister is heading there in just a few months.

When you think about college, you think about living in a dorm with a stranger. You think about hard classes, but you can figure these things out.

What you aren’t thinking about is how you’re going to take care of your diabetes in college. I realize that’s not the most important thing for you right now. You do what you’re supposed to do (sometimes barely), and nothing more.

In college there will be many threats to your health. Fortunately, you’re not a huge partier, and that will be a benefit to your body. But other temptations will be nachos in the snack bar, donuts in the coffee shop, vending machines, pizza at every get-together. You will want to pull all-nighters to study and it’ll be tempting to use caffeine and chocolate to stay awake.

The cafeteria will be another temptation – all you can eat, three times a day for four years. Here are a few suggestions. Stay active: go for a walk every day, or take up tennis or broom ball. Choose healthy foods most of the time: the cafeteria has a good salad bar and fresh fruit. Keep healthy snacks in your room.

College is going to be fun, exciting, and very stressful. If you take care of your body, the stress won’t have as big an impact on you. You deserve to get the most out of your college years, and making unhealthy choices will just drag you down. Oh, and one last thing: you will have an opportunity to be in a huge, ground-breaking (diabetes) study while you are in college. Please say yes!!

Love,

Jane (later on)

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Keep Calm

Posted on April 9, 2012 by janekdickinson

Creating a “keep calm and carry on” poster actually caused me a bit of stress. You know how it goes with trying something new. And under the pressure of the clock.

Anyway, I was choosing the background and foreground colors and actually felt my blood pressure rise with certain colors (kind of like how our BP rises when we see a number we don’t like on the blood glucose meter). How funny is that? I think I ended up with colors that feel calming (to me). I chose the photo because yesterday was Easter and kids are cute (and calming if you aren’t the one taking care of them). They appear calm in the photo.

Easter Calm

Ok, so I just looked at someone else’s poster, which is more creative and not quite as HUGE. That made me a little less calm, but oh well. Next time I’ll do better.

Have a calm day!

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Best Conversation

Posted on April 8, 2012 by janekdickinson

The best conversation I had this week(ish) was with my daughter. My daughter is ten and she is extremely random – always has been. She and I were in the car, driving home from somewhere, and she said, “Mom, what’s a weird activity you like to do?” I sat there (driving) and tried to think of something weird I like to do, when her eyes got big and she said, “Oh, I know. Counting carbs!”

Who knew she was even paying attention when I was counting? I admit there are times when I sit at the kitchen table, looking at my plate and counting (although not usually out loud). Or else I’ve just checked my blood glucose and I’m counting to see how I messed up my insulin dose that resulted in the current (high) number. I think I’m counting in my head, or at least to myself, but other ears are listening. She has asked, during those types of occasions, “What are you doing?” To which I would answer, “Counting carbs.”

Just when I think my kids have no clue about my diabetes (because I don’t make a big deal about it in front of them), they surprise me. Those are some of the best conversations.

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Best Diabetes Visit

Posted on April 7, 2012 by janekdickinson

I’m using one of my bonus prompts today, because it’s a ‘free day’ and I have no brain cells left to think of something on my own. I spent the day in an incredible training with Todd Musselman. I highly recommend him to anyone who is considering working with a coach. But I digress.

The prompt I’m using is to write about the best health care provider visit or hospital stay. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I love my endo. He’s brilliant, funny, kind, patient. Every visit with my endo is the best, so one doesn’t stick out over another.

I did have a new employee physical once, where the physician walked in and her first words were, “How long have you suffered from diabetes?” My response was, “I’ve had diabetes for 20 years, but I don’t suffer.” She got the point, I think, and my hope is that she never started a conversation that way with another patient. That was a good visit.

As far as hospital stays, I had a relatively good experience when I was diagnosed at seven. Aside from getting poked, having food snatched from my tray, and almost breaking a finger, it was a good time (I adored my nurse, and I basically played while my parents learned about diabetes).

And I loved being in the hospital when (ok, after) I had my babies. Call me crazy, but I enjoyed being pampered and having someone else worry about me for a couple days (even though I still managed my own diabetes). Everyone respected my diabetes independence and asked caring questions (they had to, since I’m the diabetes educator at the same hospital – no pressure).

Despite these experiences, my goal is to not spend much time in hospitals (unless I’m at work).

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Diabetes Haiku

Posted on April 6, 2012 by janekdickinson

My haiku is dedicated to James Bennett, wherever he is.

My haiku will make sense to those who went to Clara Barton Camp or Camp Joslin in the 80s. For an explanation, visit this post. Anyone can join the 117 fun.

In diabetes                                                                                                                                             One-seventeen: fantastic!                                                                                                             My favorite words.

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