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Vancouver March 30, 2007

Filed under: Uncategorized — Christine @ 5:12 pm

Cherry blossom Blossoms, green grass, buds straining to explode into leaves and blooms and wonderful smells. I haven’t visited this city in years and I forgot how much I like it. I love my home town and I love my friends and family there, and I love my comfortable sunny home, but it sure it nice to get away from it all from time to time. Shaking up patterns, pushing boundaries and exposing myself to new views can be uncomfortable but so worth it.

I am a spring bud, just waiting to shake off the dormant winter coat and burst into bloom and action!

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Running high March 22, 2007

Filed under: balance,Diabetes,Uncategorized — Christine @ 9:40 pm

I am encountering an interesting phase in my diabetes management. I’ve been coasting for years and last November I decied to get a more serious about taking care of my diabetes. I’ve seen my endo, dietician and teaching nurse. I started this blog to help me see that I am not alone and that there are mental and emotional impacts to this disease that are not adequetly addressed in traditional diabetes care. I bought a scale and have been measuring my food (well, sometimes). I ‘ve recorded what I eat and what my shots and blood sugars are. As a result, I expect my HbA1C will be improved (don’t know for sure – I get it done on Monday) but I’ve been experiencing lows once or twice a day and they make me feel like shit. For the past 2 weeks, I stopped recording things on my special sheets (the #s are still in the meter though) and have gone back to old habits. My blood sugars have gone up too, but y’know what – I feel better.

The lows were kicking my butt – almost every day. Running my sugars a little higher are bad for the long run but it feels more like me. I know, I know, I have to get them within range and I will. I just need to find a way to do it that is less agressive and doesn’t leave me chomping Dex4s and feeling panicked and crazy every day.

So, gotta get back on that wild horse and reign it in. She’s been feisty lately but I know she’ll settle down.

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Just do it! March 20, 2007

Filed under: Uncategorized — Christine @ 9:27 pm

I just had quite the evening. The next couple of weeks are pretty busy and I needed to plan everything carefully if I want to get everything done without going completely mental. I started to write things down but finally just said – y’know what? Just do it! Quit planning to plan – just get out there and do it!

It may not be the most efficient way but it’s working for me. In the span of 4 hours after a long day at work, I had 4 new tires installed on my car, went to the mall and bought a new jacket, shirt and belt, got groceries and washed the car. OK – now it doesn’t look as impressive once I wrote it down, but I had been researching tires, and thinking about them for weeks – when really all I had to do is go out and say: Hi, I need new tires – set me up! And voila – new, safe tires (and not a bad deal, may I add.)

The same with the other three tasks I accomplished tonight. The mental energy it takes to think about doing something often far exceeds actually just doing it.

Now, should I do my laundry, and then the dishes, work on my MACT project, and then make lunch for tomorrow? Who cares – JUST DO IT!!! Choose one thing to start, and the energy of completing a task will spill over to the next. While you are in the midst of completing a task, the next step will be clear. A body in motion…

I don’t think this method of operation is sustainbale for me, but I’ll ride the wave until it peters out. I’m off to JUST DO IT!

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It’s good to be back… March 18, 2007

Filed under: Uncategorized — Christine @ 4:34 pm

Oh good lord, I can’t believe so much time has passed since my last post. Lots of news to share but I’ll start with the Coles notes version:

1. Went to see the endocronologist and got set up on a new insulin, Levemir, which has been working nicely so far. Attended a day and a half of seminars for T1s and picked up some new information and tips. A lot of it was review but very helpful to have it refreshed. Best tips: Dex4 destrose tablets, Bran Buds and carb counting info.

2. Starting counting carbs in earnest, but have fallen back into old habits of eating whatever, whenever. I’m not overly discouraged and will get back into counting and recording carbs again.

3. Exercise: Spring is coming to this northern city and with it comes renewed energy to run and work out. I have registered for my first pilates class and I continue to play volleyball two times a week – we’re heading into the playoffs.

4. Work: The hockey team that I work for will not make the playoffs this year…very depressing. However, staff and fans continue to keep the faith and we have worked on some new initiatives this season that have been engaging and interesting.

5. School: is challenging. Well, it’s the time management of it all that is proving to be my hurdle this term. My advice to myself: apply butt to chair and work through it all. As Marlene says: It will get done: bird by bird. (A reference to Anne Lamott’s book: Bird By Bird)

6. Relationships: Working towards being “Authentic” in all my relationships. I choose this word because it means being honest, being myself, being confident and respecting the right for other to be the same.

Oh, blog, I’ve missed you, it’s good to be back.

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Evil gnomes did it… January 31, 2007

Filed under: bad things,balance,Diabetes — Christine @ 6:09 pm

Well, I just locked my keys in the car. With it running. And my purse and cell phone inside. There is a bit of a blizzard going on right now so I started the car and got out to brush off the snow. Normally, I am paranoid about doing this and leave the driver’s door ajar and unlocked – but somehow, either I pushed the automatic lock button and the wind shut the door – or evil gnomes did it – and alas, I am outside – the keys are inside.

Luckily, I am still warm and dry inside at work and my trusty boyfriend will go to my place and retrieve my spare set and come to rescue me. And now I have some forced downtime to read some Diabetic OC blogs that I have meaning to catch up on. (Somewhat luckily, my office keys are locked in the car as well so I can’t do any actual work – I’m on the reception computer).

My angst has been somewhat relieved by having this quiet time, and it was even more relieved by reading “In Search of Balance” and looking at all her gorgeous photos on Flickr. Beautiful and soulful stuff.

I sometimes wonder if things like this happen because I am diabetic – that my blood sugar was low and I was forgetful or wasn’t thinking straight. But then I remember that I had just tested and I was fine- have been for a few days now and that, everyone – everyone – does things like this from time to time. I admit that diabetes does affect my thinking at times…but this time I’ll blame it on the evil garden gnomes.

Evil gnome

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Carb-Counting 101: Digital Scale January 29, 2007

Filed under: Diabetes,health,support — Christine @ 12:19 pm

Digital Scale

I am approaching this new skill as I might approach learning a new language. I don’t expect to know it overnight and I don’t expect that I will ever be perfect. But I do expect that given a few basic rules and a lot a practice, I can certainly get the hang of this and improve my blood sugars. I am now starting to see nutrition labelling everywhere: on packaging, marketing and in my cookbooks. Carb-counting and meal planning seems daunting, and I am still a little overwhelmed, but I think learning this skill will actually make my life easier once I am over the learning curve. It’s hard to change habits but there is a lot of support and tools out there – like a scale…

When I was first diagnosed in 1990 at the aga of 15, my Mom bought a digital scale and we weighed everything. Life went on, I grew up and moved out on my own. My meal planning became fairly loose, as did my blood sugars. I ate nutritiously (well, mostly) and am fortuntate to be slim, but as far as a diabetic diet goes, I was coasting along unaware how of many carbs I was consuming.

“How did you know how much insulin to take if you weren’t counting carbs?” Ah, good question. I used a “guesstimate” technique and with HbA1Cs in the 9.4% range, I wasn’t having much success. Time to face facts and change habits.

I bought myself my very own digital scale this weekend to help in my carb-counting journey. I prepared today’s meals and snacks using it and I feel like I have a better understanding of portions using the scale. I also prepared a recipe (Dijon-Chicken Strata) for tomorrow and know that I can use the nutritional and portion information from the recipe to weigh out a serving and then calculate the amount of carb per gram. Empowering!

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Insulin Detemir (Levemir): Thoughts? January 25, 2007

Filed under: Diabetes,health,support — Christine @ 9:45 pm

Last September, I started the arduous process of getting in to see an endocronologist. It had been over 3 years and I needed to see my GP, get bloodwork and a referral. After several phone calls to the central booking office, I finally got a call in early January to see an endo…in May. Sigh. So much for trying to be pro-active.

“Is there a cancellation list?” I asked.

“Yes, we’ll put you on it and get you signed up for a 2 day refresher course in the next few weeks.” Fair enough.

Five days later, I got a call that there was a cancellation and I was in the very next day. I met with a nurse, a dietician and the endocronologist. I am now armed with a meal plan, some carb-counting resources and a nurse who I can call/e-mail and fax anytime when I have questions. Another positive change is the doctor suggested I replace my NPH with insulin detemir (Levemir) to see if that will help with my night-time lows. The action of this type of insulin lasts longer than NPH and is peakless. Apparently this has been on the Canadian market for only 1.5 years. Does anyone have any positive/negative experience with this type of insulin?

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New Year Resolutions Schmedolutions January 12, 2007

Filed under: balance — Christine @ 5:14 pm

New Years Resolutions. Have any? Just like last year? How many were carried out? I personally find New Year resolutions highly overrated. There is too much pressure and it comes at a very busy time of year when, besides the calendar year, not much else changes. That makes it that much harder to make swooping changes.

I am a fan of goal-setting at more natural breaks in our lives. Perhaps when the seasons change, a school semester finishes or a time-consuming work project is complete (are they ever complete?) Mainly, I think you make them as part of your daily routine. I think that making resolutions only on an annual basis is doomed for failure.

And why wait for a New Year? What if it is July and I am inclined to change a few things in my live? Do I have to wait 5 months in order to make some resolutions? That’s just plain silly!

I see goal setting more like sailing (or at least what I imagine sailing to be – I’m a prairie girl) . You set your course and make minor changes all the time in order to have your ship pointed in the right direction. You don’t ignore things and then try to make drastic changes. It usually doesn’t work – and if it does, it sure takes a lot more energy than it needed to.

And so, my 2007 resolution is:

I resolve not to make any New Years Resolutions. I will make sustainable, attainable and reasonable goals that are reached through daily baby steps.

Happy New Year!

Breathe December 28, 2006

Filed under: balance,health — Christine @ 12:23 pm

Ahh, the time between Christmas and New Year’s Eve. It’s a time of leftovers, cleaning up and getting things ready for the New Year. I find the time leading up to Christmas is so hectic: full of parties, luncheons, shopping, visting, cooking and cleaning. It doesn’t leave much time for relaxation and reflection.

In the spirt of starting the year off on a positive note, I booked myself a Thai massage last night and it was amazing. The practioner pulled, stretched, massaged and arranged my limbs and muscles in interesting new ways creating deep stretches and releasing tension. It is all done in rhythm with the breath which was fantastic in and of itself. We forget to really breathe and experiencing deep breathing for an extended period of time was so cleansing.

So right now, sitting at your computer, drop your hands into your lap, relax your neck and shoulders, close your eyes and just breathe… deep into your belly, in through your nose and out through your mouth. Do it for a few minutes and let the rhythm come and the tension go. Ahhh….

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I get by with a little help from my friends… December 18, 2006

Filed under: Diabetes,support — Christine @ 6:03 pm

I spent some time this weekend exploring other diabetics’ blogs. What a richness of real information from people who actually live with this, and who aren’t try to sell you something. I find it inspiring and hopeful and decided to share some of the sites that caught my eye with my family and friends. I am fortunate enough to have incredibly supportive family and friends and I want and need their help – just like I hope they would turn to me for support for anything in their lives. It’s a little difficult for me to do this. I traditionally only speak about my diabetes in very general terms: “I’m fine!” “Don’t worry!” “Of course I can eat 2 pieces of dessert!””My hands are shaky and I’m sweating? That’s normal!” I don’t want to been seen as sick or needy, and I don’t want people looking over my shoulder saying “Are you sure you can have that?” (OK – sometimes I might need that!) What I am looking for is some companions along my journey for a balanced, healthy life – and don’t we all need that?

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