Sweetnd Truth: There's more to me than what you see...

After several days of high blood sugar, I am thankful that the coating of sugar goes away and I am able to see clearly again. After the long, dreadful minutes of the shaky, sweaty, scary lows..the sugar finally seeps into my bloodstream, and I am thankful to be able to stand up on my own and coherently understand what is going on. I'm thankful for kink-free tubing when changing an infusion site, therefore helping my blood sugar  not  be out of whack! I am thankful that I don't have any other serious health complications along with diabetes [so far]. I am thankful for the diabetic technology available to me so that I can try to live my life as "normally" as possible. I am  so, so, so  thankful for my family, friends, advocates, supporters, doctors, my kitty, & the online diabetic community. From the people who listen everyday...to the ones who have helped me through a difficult low or high blood sugar or diabetic situation. I'm lucky to be blessed...

November is National Diabetes month.  Today, November 9th, is d-blog day.  It was started back in 2005 to help connect bloggers and create awareness on the disease. There is a different topic each year; this year, diabetics are asked to share six things about diabetes with others. Here are some facts that I consider to be important and worth sharing:  1.  Type 1 Diabetes can happen at any age and is still considered to be 'Juvenile Diabetes.' I was diagnosed at age 22.  People believe that because a person is diagnosed later in life, it is not the same. Completely untrue!  In fact, people with type 1 always have that autoimmune gene in them,  and it decides when it wants to come out.  It could happen at any point in your life.  No matter what age you're diagnosed, type 1 diabetics still require insulin to live. 2.  We didn't do anything to deserve diabetes. Most people with Type 1 diabetes are very healthy!  We take...

Is it ironic that my husband's birthday also marks my D-Anniversary?  I think not...since my husband is my biggest supporter and advocate.  Three years ago today--we had plans to go out with friends and family to celebrate, but we were sidetracked by this illness that had overcome me.   We thought our trip to Emergency One would be quick--we would be in and out...no big deal.  Little did we know that our lives would forever be changed.   I don't think there's any irony to these two events happening on the same day.  Kris, my husband, is so much a part of my life, diabetes-related...and everything else in between.  Living together, he sees the effects that this disease has on me.  He shares the frustrations and fears with me.  We are a team in this fight against diabetes, and we won't let it get the best of us.   [Raises glass] So, here’s to another 3 years of exceptional health & happiness in life with my husband  and ...

As an avid cupcake and sugar lover, I know what a difficult time Halloween can cause!  Having bags of delectables around the house can be tempting for a diabetic. I have come up with some strategies that might be helpful to my fellow diabetics, especially the parents of diabetic children out there. One of the most important words that I have learned as a diabetic is  moderation.   You can eat anything, and I mean  anything , that you want in moderation.  Nothing is off limits.  Just limit how much you eat.  So have that candy on Halloween; but don't eat every piece that you have in the bag.  I find that I can consume more candies (at a time) that are low in sugar, for example, Reeses or Hersheys.  However, candies like Starburst or Skittles, I have to really watch, because they spike my blood sugar.  So, for parents, I suggest giving your children what they can eat and storing away the rest of it.  No need to have that candy...

         This whole "pre-existing condition" is very aggravating, to say the least.  Why do I...someone who struggles with diabetes everyday...have the added stress of proving that I had previous insurance in order to have current coverage?  What is wrong with the world today?  I had a specific insurance for three months, and then a different one before that.  My current health provider wanted me to get a letter from my health insurance company from a year ago to "prove" that I had insurance!  What's worse is that I came home a couple weeks ago to a packet full of "denied coverage" due to a "pre-existing condition."  Really?  You couldn't have sent that to me months ago?      So here I am today,  finally  going to my general doctor for my annual check-up & flu shot; originally scheduled 2 weeks ago, but due to an outstanding balance, I couldn't go.  As diabetics [and others suffering fr...

         Is anyone else petrified of even the thought of a low bg?  The past couple of times I worked out, my bg was about 110-130 when I started my exercise routine.  It scares me because my workouts are pretty intense.   The fact that I could drop low while working out frightens me!  I hate those sweaty, shaky, heart-racing, wanna-shove-every-food-in-my-mouth lows! So, when I am busting my butt--punching and kicking and doing all those other fun body combat moves, the last thing I want to have on my mind are those dreadful low blood sugar levels!       Am I feeling fatigued because the class really is kicking my toosh, or am I low?  When I test, and I am on the lower 100 end, I shove a fruit strip in my mouth, barely even tasting what it is I am actually eating...because I don't want to miss a minute of my workout.  Testing during a workout class is a pain!  I try not to get in people's workout spa...

       Imagine one of your favorite childhood memories.  What can you smell..hear..taste?  For me, it was the time that I spent with my grandma & grandpa (Nanny & Poppop was what I called them).  My grandmother made the most delicious lentil soup.  This was my all-time favorite of hers.  To this day, no one can quite make it like she did.  Something is always missing, but you can’t put your finger on exactly what it is!  Does it need more salt..more basil? What is it?!  Nanny’s recipe is very vague...to say the least!  It goes like this: “A little bit of this, a little bit of that.”  No measurements.        Today, I decided to try to make the famous lentil soup.  As I cooked the lentils, I thought about Nanny, and how much I miss her.  What would she think about me having diabetes?  She was the Italian grandma who gave you many different sweets and flavorful edib...