Monday 16 March 2015

LOOK FORWARD TO SUNSHINE!





Yesterday was such a raining day..i kept looking through my windows to see if the rain had stopped but it just kept pouring. I couldn't go out and was really bored at home. I imagined dry roads and a little bit of sunshine. Then it hit me that whilst the rain was pouring, sunshine is on its way and i will be able to go out maybe not today but tomorrow..sunshine will come and I said to myself even with your life Wemmy. Oh the rain is pouring seriously in my life right now but sunshine is coming and it will come! 

Its a process, things don't just happen right away, it takes time and different emotions, trying times takes as long as it takes, you can't cheat the process and you can't rush it either. While the rain is pouring so hard, learn to take it easy on yourself, improve yourself while at it, learn from it, know that its ok to feel whatever you are feeling, this is what the experience calls for, don't over spiritualize things, don't put any more burden on yourself. Neglecting your emotions or pretending that you are fine, while you are not doesn't really help....cry if you need to, yell if thats how you are feeling, you must allow this process, fighting it will only make things worse. Its not something you did wrong or something you didn't do...its just life and it happens. For the most part last year I kept saying to myself, is it something I did in my past that I'm getting punished for? But I quickly realized, nope...its just life and it happens. 

Sunshine is on its way and its going to be beautiful and warm and amazing, oh yes it will be amazing. I don't know how long it will take sunshine to get here, but I know its coming and I know it will meet me a better and stronger person. I know when it comes I will be very ready for it and I will enjoy it. After every storm is a calm and then the sun will shine. Don't give up happier days are coming! 







DIABETES RANTS!



I saw this picture on Instagram and I went..yup thats's the story of my life. I really don't sleep well. I wake every morning feeling so tired. I try to go to bed early but then I wake up severally in the middle of the night to wee wee or deal with low blood sugar. The doctors keep saying if you don't get enough sleep you blood sugar will be high in the mornings...and I go my high blood sugar won't even let me sleep, or low blood sugar which means I have to wake up and find something to eat. This diabetic life is very complicated. 

CONTROLLED BLOOD SUGAR!



My friend asked me what it feels like to have a high blood sugar and I told her its exactly how you feel when drunk. Everything is not just normal, I get very uncomfortable, become very thirsty and hungry, wee wee like a million times, headaches, blur vision, mood swings and the list is endless.
The doctors says normal blood sugar should be between 4-7 for fasting and 7-10 two hours after meal. Well it doesn't really work that way, two hours after food I'm always still very high. What I have realized is there is no hard and fast rule to managing diabetes, just keep going with the flow. I must say thou, my mum has got her blood sugar under control, but she has type 2 diabetes and has had it for a while. I don't compare myself to her, because we are fighting different battles..in fact I don't compare my diabetes management with anyone, I just do what works for me. 


BOLUS FOR IT

 I hear this a lot, can you have this or that, is this or is that too sweet for you? Yes I can have it all as long as I bolus for it...the benefits of insulin! But I still try to have a healthy lifestyle. Sundays are my official cheat days, I eat whatever I want but still keep my blood sugar under control. Weight management matters to me, because I'm a young girl and I love to look good plus eating healthy is just better especially if you have diabetes! 


I FORGET THINGS!


Oh yes...i do! I go from my room to the living room to pick something up and before i get to the living room, i would have forgotten what I came out to pick. I forget what my blood sugar reading was, sometimes I'm not sure if I had my insulin or not! I forget to make that call, send that email, I just forget things. To help with this I have a to do list of the things I want to do, before I forget.

Well I just felt like ranting a little bit this morning. Here goes my rants!

GIVE THANKS!







We should all learn to be grateful!

When things get tough we all beg the question why me? why is this happening to me? I watch my siblings eat whatever they like without worrying about the consequences and I go why me? I'm the youngest I should be the healthiest..but it doesn't really work that way. We complain, we blame, I can remember saying to God, "I know you can heal me and take away all my pains and heartaches but you just prefer to sit there and watch me suffer, guess my suffering brings you joy"...pretty harsh eh! After saying that statement, something hit me and I said to myself, Wemmy, you know there were people that were so healthy, that went to bed yesterday night and never woke up...be grateful you are alive.

It might feel like there is nothing to be grateful for, things are not working why should I be grateful but i bet you, there are tons of things to be grateful for. Stop and say thank you to anything. Be grateful you are alive, be grateful for that warm house you come back to, the job you have even if you hate (it clothes and feeds you), food in your fridge, appetite to eat the food, a car that starts every morning, families that love you, friends that support you,

When something unexpected  happens like health issues or disappointments we blame (like I did). Sometimes these things we feel we don't deserve and don't understand why they are happening to us but as time goes on we realize the importance of the road block, maybe it was made to make us feel stronger, to introduce us to cool people, maybe it made us realized how easy we have had it, gives us the right connections in life. Whatever it might be, just be grateful and give thanks always.



Sunday 15 March 2015

SUPPORT SYSTEM!






We all need support whether it be during our happy moments or our trying times. We need people to be happy for and with us, we need people to share our happy times with, and the same goes for when we are going through tough times. We often feel alone, angry and dejected. I personally tend to resist help or support because i don't want to come across as needy and don't want to be pitied. But i find that when I get to talk with my aunties, parents, friends etc.. I feel a whole lot better.

There are people all around who can help, we just have to ask, we can get support from our families, our friends, counsellors( I love talking to a counsellor) our co-workers etc, they should be willing to help us and share in our burdens.

Most Importantly, we should learn how to be our own support. Parents might not always be there, friends might have things going on in their lives too, people get busy, but if you know how to support yourself when you are down, then things will look better.

Be your own cheerleader: Give yourself some credit, remember the things you've done well, the good choices you made ( I resisted cheesecake and ice-cream and had for salad for lunch). Regularly praise yourself.  

Self Validation: We all tend to look for someone else to see the best in us. Before making a phone call to that friend or sibling I always say to myself, what will they say to me...."this too will pass, its just for a while, you are a strong girl". I say all those to myself and encourage myself in the process.

Stop judging yourself: Its very ok, to feel down, I'm down because I'm losing my hair...thats not a good thing and I'm not excited about it, this will help me understand my feelings and work through them. It's ok to feel down but its not ok to stay down.

What do you really need right now: when feeling down it is important to know what you body needs to feel better. Do I need someone neutral to talk with? Do i need to go for a walk or go shopping? Pick up a book and read. Whatever it is just make sure you do what you really feel like doing and what will put you in a better mood.

Please remember the goal is not to stop reaching out to others, the goal is to be there for yourself when you need help and there is no one around.

RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS!






I feel so good with myself when i help others. While i might not have so many friends, I'm a very kind and caring person (if i do say so myself) and recently I find that helping others gives me so much joy. While I was in Nigeria, I would give things out to the motherless babies, reach out to the less privileged and just put smiles on peoples faces. 

On saturday I went for a baked sales events, where we baked different snacks and sold them, we were able to make some money for some families going through hard times. My friend in school asked me to help out with her project, I said yes and went to school just for that, she offered to take me for lunch, but i turned down the offer. Just seeing how happy she was after we finished working on her project made me very happy and made my day a little brighter. 

We should never underestimate kindness. Doing nice things to people for no reason has so many rewards. Acts of kindness help create bridges where love flows to others and the joy it brings knows no bounds 

When we are presented with opportunities to be kind towards others, we should all take these opportunities and discover how awesome it feels. Not doing it for what we can get back in return just to make the world a happy place! 

As we start this new week, make up your mind to do something kind to put a smile on someone's face. Hold the door with a smile for someone, give compliments, buy coffee for that homeless guy on the street...Just do something.

Be kind!






Saturday 7 March 2015

HAPPINESS IS A CHOICE




I can think of one million and one reasons why i shouldn't be happy and they are legit reasons. But I have decided to choose happiness. Its not the easier decision but the best decision.


Most times we depend on external things to make us happy; having a good health, finding the perfect mate, the perfect job, starting a family and the list is endless. We also tend to blame other people or circumstances for our unhappiness. How can i be happy when i'm sick? or how can i be happy when I can't find a job? People or circumstances can not make us unhappy without our permission. "Life is 10% of what happens to us and 90% of how we react to it".

Happiness starts with us. We should choose to be happy and make out time to invest in ourselves. We should be happy and at peace with who we are. If we don't like how things are going, we can always make changes and see things differently.

Be grateful for the things that are working, even the things that are not working because they are only there to teach us a lesson, make us stronger and wiser. You can not be grateful and be unhappy at the same time.

I have seen people that have it all; money, great relationships, perfect jobs etc and are still very unhappy and depressed. Its not about the external things, its all about you. Make the choice to be happy.

We should make happiness a way of life and not a destination. We see happiness as a goal, but happiness is not out there somewhere, its inside of us all. Its our job to remove the barriers, limiting beliefs, fears, insecurities, disappointments keeping us from accessing the lasting joy we have on the inside.






THIS TOO SHALL PASS!






Its very easy to believe and follow inspirational or life's quotes and have a positive attitude when things are going on well for us.

I read this quote from Wayne Dyer "when you squeeze an orange, orange juice comes out because thats whats in it. When you are squeezed, what comes out is whats inside you".

When we get squeezed by life what comes out? Can we still remain kind and loving? Maintain our peace? Be the jolly good fellow we have always been?

Everyone reacts to challenges in their lives differently. If you don't like what comes out of you, when you get squeezed then change it. We shouldn't be victims of our circumstances. We might not be able to control what life sends us but we can control how we react to life. It only takes one person to change your life and that person is YOU.

Trials in life are not meant to destroy us, they are meant to give us strength, make us bolder and wiser. We must always remember we are stronger than our challenges. We should learn to let go of the things we can't control, channelling all the energy we have in living in the moment. The pain, agony, lose won't be forever, its just a bump in the road. This too shall pass.

Keep moving forward, do the things you enjoy, be around the people you love, pick up new hobby, eat healthy, exercise regularly, just keep moving and before you know it you would be able to say the storm has passed, I survived, I'm wiser and stronger.



Friday 6 March 2015

INSULIN AND WEIGHT MANAGEMENT!




When my endocrinologist place me on insulin, he said "you can have whatever you want, just make sure you take enough insulin to cover for it". I was the happiest girl...I thought I could have pops, ice-cream and all the sweet things i liked. Two weeks on i noticed i started gaining weight but i just thought it was because my numbers got better and finally I'm getting healed! I went for my appointment at the diabetes clinic and the nurse said, "oh Wemmy, you gaining weight you need to watch it". I was confused and hit google, searching if insulin caused weight gain and the answer was a big fat YES! I was really upset no one told me. I went off insulin and said that's it I'm done with this diabetes thing.

Again, my parents counselled me and pleaded i go back on insulin, My numbers went crazy, so I had to go back on insulin but i did a lot of research on insulin and weight management.

I have been able to keep away some of the weight by:


  • Eating healthy: I only stock my fridge and pantry with fruits, vegetables, lots of protein and some granola bars for my lows. I try to drink lots of water. I cut down on my carb intake. Replaced rice with cauliflower, pasta with zucchini. Its very expensive and time consuming to eat healthy but i really try my best. I also reduced the rate at which I eat out. Of course I have my cheat days but for the most part I keep it healthy. 



  • I try my best not to skip meals and also eat at the same time everyday. This is very hard for me because I have different schedule everyday. But as much as i can, i do this.



  • I stay active. I go to the gym 4 times a week and I walk a lot. If I'm gonna take any carb, I usually do that and then hit the gym. I really don't enjoy going to the gym, so I go for the fun drop in fitness classes  (zumba, cardio dance, pilates...etc) 
I find that with healthy diet and exercise, I really don't use as much insulin as I should. Of course i have days when my blood sugar just won't go down and I have to use even more insulin. But managing diabetes doesn't have any fixed rule, you keep trying different things and what works for A might not work for B. I just do what works me. 




Tuesday 3 March 2015

LITTLE THINGS!


When life gets you down its really difficult to see the little things that are working out for you. I went to my counsellor and complained how nothing is working and I'm just struggling. She told me some cool stuffs that got me thinking and made me realize I have been taking the little things that are working for granted.


  • I'm doing so well in school, my grades are good and I keep making good progress. I'm very proud of myself! 

  • I have got an AWESOME family. My parents are the best, so supportive, so caring, so loving, I don't know what I would do without their love. My siblings are my best friends, they are always there cheering me on

  • Have got great friends. I'm a very private person, so I don't share must of my struggles but when i do share them with  my close friends, they are always there for me

  • Church: I attend  Glad Tidings church, and they are great people. 
In the mist of life's struggles, these little things  i'm grateful for and they keep me going. 







FAKE IT TILL YOU MAKE IT!







So I have been very sad and depressed this last week with everything going on with me. I find myself eating a lot of unhealthy food and not managing my diabetes well. I can't count the number of pops I have had and I have really gone off track. While its ok to be sad when things are not going on well, its not ok to stay depressed.

I came up with some things i will start doing to put myself in a better mood:


  • I start my mornings with stating three things I'm grateful for. "In positive psychology research, gratitude is strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness. Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity and build strong relationships". So thats number one on my to do list. State the things I'm grateful for. If you want to get healthier then give thanks. 

  • During the day, when i start feeling sad, i will get up and go for a walk, notice beautiful houses, birds, the ocean, and just appreciate nature. 



  • Hang out with my friends. I just joined a cool group of young women encouraging each other. So thats really good. Go for dinner or whatever and just gist away and forget about my worries. 


I know I'm gonna get better, things will start working out but while it seems like its not...I might as well fake it till i make it..eh!