DIABETES BLOG WEEK: DAY 2!

Many of us share lots of aspects of our diabetes lives online for the world to see.  What are some of the aspects of diabetes that you choose to keep private from the internet?  Or from your family and friends?  Why is it important to keep it to yourself?  (This is not an attempt to get you out of your comfort zone.  There is no need to elaborate or tell personal stories related to these aspects.  Simply let us know what kinds of stories we will never hear you tell, and why you won't tell them.)

I'm a very private person and I don't share lots of things about my life. I can count the number of people that know I'm diabetic. No, I'm not ashamed that I have the disease it just works for me that way.

Diabetes is one disease most people feel they know a lot about or have solutions for. It annoys me when people say things like: you had way too much sugar, just stay away from sugar, drink this water and you would be healed..errrr just shut up please. I was dealing with low blood sugar one day and my sister goes, have you used your insulin...really???!!!! I said to myself thats why I don't share my experiences. Living with diabetes is hard enough I don't need anyone to frustrate me even more 

There is nothing wrong with sharing with people and I do share when I have to, I tell my parents everything, my very close friends and my siblings. I check my blood sugar anywhere and give myself insulin whenever I have to, I must say though, I get quite a stare but I don't care. I need to take this to stay alive and I don't think the bathrooms are clean enough for me! 

I created this blog just to let out some steam and it has been a great decision, I have also learned a lot and felt encouraged through the Diabetes Online Community.

photo credit: newline.com

I CAN DO IT ALL!

In the UK, there was a diabetes blog theme of "I can...”  that participants found wonderfully empowering.  So lets kick things off this year by looking at the positive side of our lives with diabetes.  What have you or your loved one accomplished, despite having diabetes, that you weren't sure you could?  Or what have you done that you've been particularly proud of?  Or what good thing has diabetes brought into your life?

This is my first time participating in the diabetes blog week and I'm new at blogging. 

When I was diagnosed with diabetes I was told a number of things I can't do...I can't eat this anymore, I can't get a manicure and pedicure(my fave things to do), I can't do this, I can't do that. Needless to say I thought my life was coming to an end. I was overwhelmed and very sad. 

I quickly adjusted and was my happy self again, living life and coping with my diabetes, then I became very sick and was told my diabetes was no longer T2 its now T1....wait what? How can that happen? I was very angry, to make matter worse I was all by myself, no family members to hold my hands and tell me it would be ok. 

I had midterms coming up in 3days, school was very busy, had lots of papers (group projects) due. The endo and GP advised me to take some time off school, my parents told me to take the semester off and just focus on getting well. 

I decided not to take any time off, rescheduled my exams and was determined to continue with school and do very well also, at the end of that semester I had all As and I was very proud of myself. 

Today I have two degrees, one in Psychology and the other one in Human Resources.

I believe I can achieve whatever I want to achieve, diabetes can't stop me, it might make the process difficult or painful but it won't stop me from achieving my dreams.

I can do it all!

GO ASK YOUR MUMMY!

In honour of Mother's Day coming up on Sunday, I have decided to have this write up...Go Ask Your Mummy!

Mothers are the best! They love and take care of us unconditionally, they scarifies for us and make sure we are ok, at all times.

However, history has shown over time that daughters are at risk of getting the diseases  their mother's battle with. Mother's have a way of hiding what they are dealing with, just to protect us but I think thats really not protecting us, its putting us at risk. Have that conversation with your mum today, ask what you are at risk of having, what is she dealing with, what your grandma dealt with, your aunties(paternal and maternal)?  Knowing your family history can help prevent any kind of disease lurking in your body.

Yes we are get scared, we say things like "what I don't know won't kill me", well what you don't know might just be killing you slowly. Early detection of any kind of disease is always better. Share your family history with your health care provider, they might be able to give you tips on how to manage the condition. And just because you mum has these diseases or it's in your family doesn't mean you will get it automatically, it just means that you are likely to have them and you can control your health by making lifestyle changes and checking in with your health care provider form time to time.

Even if your family has a clean bill of health, you should be aware of the diseases you can get form your environment, stress, and the kind of life you are living.

Its very important to eat well, and to be physically active.

Happy Mother's Day to all the beautiful, strong and loving Mums out there.


XoXo,
Wemmy.

TIRED!

That's really how I feel right now! I'm tired of your shit, diabetes!!!! Today has been one of those days...I woke up with a banging headache and was very dizzy, so I knew my blood sugar must be very high. I struggled to get my meter and checked my blood sugar....it was 29.5....whooaaw! Did someone inject me with sugar while I was sleeping? Really can't explain that. My blood sugar at bedtime was 10.5, so what happened to you almighty blood sugar?

I took three units of apidra (insulin) and just stayed in bed waiting for it to come down. Two hours after taking apidra I checked again and it had gone up to 30.6 (my blood sugar don't joke!). So I took 7 units of apdira and waited for three hours, it came down to 25. 6 and all through the day it was between 25.6 and 27.8. I didn't eat for the most part of today and just felt horrible. 

I literally feel like a human pin cushion right now..pricked my fingers like 15 times and kept jabbing my tummy. 

Dear Diabetes, you are very rude and selfish! I have practically changed my whole life because of you, give you all the attention you need and spend so much on you, yet you keep doing whatever you like and making me feel like crap. 

Expecting hypoglycaemia very soon because of all the insulin I have pumped into my system. 

Just another day in my life...no big deal! 

SEATTLE HERE I COME!

Ah! it feels like christmas morning to me today...I'm going to Seattle!!!!! I'm very excited about this, it's a short trip but I'm very happy I'm going. I love traveling to places have never been and living a life of a tourist.

I don't really have anything planned out, but I know I will do some shopping, things are way cheaper in the US than they are here in Canada, eat as much as I can and just have fun generally. Checked the weather and it should be warm a little bit...so yay to getting some sun in!

Will be seeing my friend that I have not seen in seven years!!!! Can't wait to catch up!

Of course as a diabetic I have to go with all my supplies and I'm not sure if I would need a note to carry them across because I'm going via ferry. Anyway, I didn't get a note and will just rough it out.

Super duper excited for the next three days and will blog when experience there when I get back.

XoXo,
Wemmy.

4TS OF DIABETES!

As we all know, I found out I had diabetes randomly (I always say it's my "I too know attitude" that pushed me to test that day). Oh well, its all good because now I know and I have been trying my best to manage it and live a healthy life generally. At that time I didn't know the symptoms of diabetes even though I had them all.

I would like to share the 4 Ts of Diabetes (diabetes symptoms)

Toilet:
Do you always need to go to the toilet often? waking up frequently during the night to "wee wee" or having short breaks between going to the toilet, this is  part of the symptoms of diabetes.

Thirsty:
Are you always excessively thirsty and feel the need to drink water all the time? Regularly getting up to drink water during the night, even after drinking a bottle of water or any kind of liquid you still feel very thirsty? 

Thinner:
Losing weight without watching your weight? Increased appetite which means, you are always hungry and eating yet you are losing weight uncontrollable?

Tired:
No energy to do the things you love, or just feeling very weak all day, finding physical activities difficult?

If you answered yes to these things, you might want to check your blood sugar out. The test is very easy and simple, its just a prick and a drop of blood.

It's usually said that these are symptoms of type 1 diabetes, but as we all know, type1 diabetes is not just for kids, i got diagnosed in my 20s and i had all these symptoms.

Diabetes is not a death sentence, people have it, live with it and enjoy their lives!

XoXo,
Wemmy.

ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES!

Stop the Press!!!!! I'm done with school!!!! How cool is that? I'm so excited and grateful but above all I'm very proud of myself. Having to deal with health issues and going to school was not an easy one but I did it...I did it and I did it amazingly so! Whoop Whoop!

I was at my doctors office and he said to me "so Wemmy whats next after school"...and i said, I wanna live a life of endless possibilities. Where that came from I really don't know but it came out and I guess I must have been thinking of it. On my way home I started thinking what that means and what it will mean for me and I figured it simply means pulling myself up, opening my mind to new ideas and possibilities, taking advantage of the opportunities out there for me, doing amazing things most importantly not letting fear take over my life, dream big, work hard, play hard. 

Our lives are filled with endless possibilities we just have to open our minds to see them. 

Is it going to be an easy task...absolutely not, but I'm going to do it, I will not be scared to try new things and take risk. When I think of positive things happening in my life, this silly voice comes and says it won't happen. I used to be scared and worried and I believed the voice but not anymore. I believe i can be whatever I wanna be and do whatever I wanna do...So I know I'm going to be great! Thats my mindset right now. 

Looking for jobs and going for interviews scares the hell out of me, but I'm going to enjoy this process and learn from it. 

An update from my visit to the doctors: I don't have thyroid problems but I"m going into early menopause. Where that came from I really don't know, maybe its in my family, maybe not...i really don't know and I really don't care either. I'm just gonna to take it in my strides and move on to do beautiful things. I can't worry or be sad about everything, gotta laugh some out...and I'm definitely laughing this one out. 

"I know in my heart that its my time and I already see the possibilities are never ending" (unknown)

XoXo,

Wemmy.