When I was free

   

          4 YEARS

          In some ways it feels just like yesterday, but other times I can hardly remember what life was like. Back when I was free. Free of a time schedule, free from carb counting, free from needles, free from worry. I looked so pure on the exterior, no callused fingers or bruises from shots. No infusion set or insulin pump to conceal. No thinking about how long I was going without eating. Life was so simple. 

        But these senior portraits, taken on October 3rd, 2010, tell another story too. In these pictures you see a frail broken body, unable to sustain any weight. The glassy look in my eyes just screams high BG. I remember being so thirsty that day, I remember it distinctly. When we were finally finished with the 4 hour photo shoot, I was almost crying with hunger and thirst. It was the beginning of the downward spiral. 3 months before diagnosis. 

       I was fading fast, looking back I see it. Insulin truly saved my life. It brought Morgan back. The twinkle in the eye returned. I came back better than ever. Stronger and more confident. I may not be free, but I am alive, living each day to the fullest. 

Decorating Diabetes: A Pump Peelz Review

          I was so excited when I came into contact with Emily and Scott, founders of Pump Peelz. Pump Peelz are stickers made for insulin pumps, meters, and CGMs. They were created to decorate diabetes and make it fun and exciting for children and adults with Type 1 Diabetes. I was so excited to be given the opportunity to review one of their new products, Glow in the Dark peelz created just in time for halloween.

The Package 

       When the package arrived, I happily opened it with pride knowing that a fellow T1D had created this to bring joy to others living with the disease. I like how intricate the spider web design is on the peel, it almost seems real. I know many kids who would die to have a cool sticker like this. When I went to place the peel on my Dexcom receiver, I was impressed with how thick and durable it was. It was easy to unpeel and re-stick the peel several times in order to place it in the desired position. I can tell these peelz can be easily reusable as long as you protect them, which I love because I will be able to switch out different peelz depending on the season.

Dex modeling the new peel! 

      My favorite aspect of this particular peel is the Glow in the Dark feature. I know this was created to make it fun for Children and get them in the halloween spirit, but it is also very practical for young adults and adults. I sleep with my Dexcom in bed with me in order to hear the vibration at night. I am notorious for loosing it somewhere in my bed, but the past few nights I have been able to easily spot it because it is now Glow in the Dark. 

     I highly recommend Pump Peelz for anyone and everyone with T1D. The variety is so vast that I know you will find something that appeals to you and puts a smile on your face. I will definitely be purchasing more of these for my collection. Pump Peelz are currently available for the Dexcom G4 receiver, the Ominipod (generation 2),   the Omnipod PDM,  the Medtronic Minimed pump, and the OneTouch VerioIQ meter. You can find your favorite peelz here. Happy Pumping and CGMing!

Gluten Free is not a choice

         I have been following a gluten free diet for almost a year now after suggestion from my endocrinologist. I passed the Celiac blood test, but I was having symptoms which is quite common in people with T1D. Since making the switch, a fog has lifted in my body and my BG numbers have become more stable and consistent. I also finally like bread. It's been a change for the better and I would not go back. Many people think that gluten free diets are a fad, and people do it to loose weight or be hip. But for some people it is their life. I have several friends who suffer from Celiac disease and following a gluten free diet is not a choice for them. Their small intestines cannot physically handle the gluten.  They must be strict and follow the diet exactly or they can become very sick.
       The problem is that gluten free food is ridiculously expensive and the selection is quite small, although that is slowly changing. Necessities like a loaf of bread are $6.25, sometimes more depending on the store. A box of crackers is about $5.00 and a pack of 4 muffins is $7.00. That is just not fair. They need to eat too. And sometimes it is hard to afford these food staples that they need for everyday life. They did not choose the gluten free life, the gluten free life choose them and I think insurance should help. The gluten free diet is like a medication for  so  it is only fair that they be provided with a certain amount of money per month to purchase those necessities such as bread and pasta. It does not need to be a large amount of money, $100-$150 per month would help. Anything would help. It would make the disease feel like less of a burden. Going to the grocery store would be less traumatic, as seeing the price rise at checkout is quite frightening. If anyone reading this is involved in the medical profession, please speak up and help those who follow a gluten free diet because of legitimate medical reasons. We need your help to make a change!
   

JDRF Walk 2014: Type One becomes Type None

I'm the walk to change my future type. 

      Twas the night before the one walk, and I was not sleeping. I was fighting. I was struggling, startled by a BG of 40 at 3:00am. I awoke shaky as ever and stumbled into the kitchen for some juice. This situation repeated itself again at 6:00am. When it was time to get up for the walk, I was not excited. I was tired, annoyed, and still on the low side. But then I realized that was the very reason I was walking. To stop this endless cycle of discomfort for myself and all those suffering from Type 1 Diabetes. I decided to be the walk to change my future type.
      I got to the walk and my spirit was immediately lifted. Just the atmosphere  is something I cannot even describe. The feeling of togetherness and the understanding that everyone around you gets it. They know what you are going through because they go through it themselves. The emotion is strong. You are sad that you have to be there, but happy to have that sense of community. This year, I invited some close friends in addition to family to walk with me. I did not know how they react, but it was a success. They were wonderful and I loved having them there. I know that I have an amazing support system, but having some of them there physically was so special. Thank you all for walking with me.

<3 

The magical pod 

       After the walk had ended, I had the opportunity to talk with representatives from many of the most popular diabetic supply companies. As always, I enjoyed stocking up on glucose tablets, but also got some wonderful information about the technology available. I had a great talk with a rep. from Insulet regarding the Omnipod tubeless insulin pump. He even put a demo pod on me. I am now convinced Omnipod is in my near future. I thought it would feel bulky, but it was so comfortable. I adore the idea of being able to bolus with a remote because it will come in handy while figure skating. The waterproof feature is also helping to win me over because I love water parks and this will allow me to continue to receive insulin while swimming. I am very excited to begin the project of cutting the cord and getting the Omnipod up and running.
      The walk always leaves me feeling happy and enthusiastic about the future. I am excited to see what technological advancements will be made this year. The JDRF is one step closer to creating a world without Type 1 Diabetes.

A 24-hour walk with D

       

             I recently joined the Walk with Diabetes campaign to give people a chance to virtually walk in the shoes of a person with Diabetes. I decided to document 24 hours of all my thoughts related to D. Unsurprisingly the day I selected was a rough one, but I think it was a good representation of the unpredictability of this disease. Here is a glimpse into my day...

           By this point, I was finished with D for the night. It had managed to dampen my spirit and left me feeling defeated for the day. Then I got this tweet... 

           I instantly felt ok again. I was reminded that having a rough day is normal, as sucky as it may be. Rough days are usually few and far between, but they hit you like a ton of bricks. There is nothing you can do about it but take a deep breath and move on. Tomorrow will always be better, tomorrow is another battle. A battle we can win together. Diabuddies unite for life. 

An Invisible Story

        Since the day I was born, I was always "that girl" who was sickly. At birth I was 6lbs. and 12oz., but I lost weight like it was my duty in life. I wouldn't breast feed and it took forever to find a bottle I would use, my stubborn nature was evident from the start. My parents purchased a baby scale and religiously weighed me every night to make sure I was gaining. Eventually I caught on and that bullet was dodged.
       At the age of 3, I began having bathroom issues. I was taken to the gastroenterologist, who commented I was the youngest patient he had ever seen with these issues. They preformed a colonoscopy, and discovered colon polyps. Luckily they were benign, another sigh of relief for my parents. By the time I was 6 years old, I had endured 5 colonoscopies. But my parents never took pity on me, they just explained it so simply that I thought all kids had colonoscopies. Little did I know that this procedure is most common in late adulthood. As I grew, I sometimes talked about what I had endured and others were just disgusted that I would bring that up, like it was a bad thing and I should hide it.
      Off and on as I grew up, I made numerous trips to the pediatrician for small things like acid reflux, scarlet fever, easy bruising, scoliosis, pneumonia, and frequent ear infections. But I was always fine. As a freshman in high school I suffered from my 3rd case of pneumonia. This time it hit me hard, and my body did not bounce back like it had in the past. I lost weight, had a terrible cough, and fainting spells because I couldn't breath. I was admitted into the hospital for 3 nights where the doctors were convinced I had late onset Cystic Fibrosis. My mom was devastated and could not believe her ears as the doctors discussed treatment plans. By the grace of God, the tests came back negative. I was instead diagnosed with Bronchiectasis, a disease where the lungs are stretched and widened due to scar issue and mucus can block the airways. This can be treated with several different breathing treatments, and I have had much success with them so it is not a major issue for me currently.
       Then Type 1 Diabetes came into my life at the age of 17. Honestly out of all my diagnosis, I took this one the easiest because I had grown up with a childhood friend who is a T1D. I was not scared because I knew I would still be able to lead a normal life. But it is an invisible disease where on the outside you appear totally fine but on the inside your are always fighting an internal battle against sugar, carbs, insulin, exercise, and millions of other variables. But it becomes the new "normal" and life goes on. People have a hard time understanding the disease and judge without really knowing it. That's why we must advocate, not just for diabetes, but all diseases.
        I am not looking for pity in this post. I do not want people to feel sorry for me because I am living a happy, healthy life. I am exposed to wonderful technology and have an amazing support system. I am lucky.
       I am just asking for no judgement. Everyone has their own story, their own private lives where they suffer. I have friends and family who live with a variety of diseases and health issues including: Type 1 Diabetes, Celiacs, Anorexia, Fibromyalgia, Leukemia, Crohns, Multiple Sclerosis, Colon Cancer, Breast Cancer, Depression, Cystic Fibrosis, Autism, Blindness, Deafness, Asthma, and the list can go on and on. All of these diseases suck, but all the sufferers I know are so much more than their disease. They are HUMANS, they are FIGHTERS, and they LIVE LIFE WITH NO REGRETS. So please DO NOT JUDGE. Treat everyone with respect because we all live with something that has changed us. An invisible story that makes us who we are. So do not be afraid to share your story. I am sure it is worth telling. <3

This is ME. Be proud of who you are. 

Reality

The reality is this summer was less than desirable.
The reality is we had a four foot flood in our basement.
The reality is I lost many cherished items.
The reality is diabetes sucks.
The reality is I am not in complete control.
Life does not always play fair and that's ok.
The reality is it'll be fine as my BFF continuously reminds me.
Lost items are not as important as people and memories.
Diabetes will always throw curve ballast me, I just have to correct and move on.
The reality is this summer made me a stronger person.

             

Guilty

       Tonight, I am feeling guilty. Guilty about something I should not even have to worry about. This afternoon I forgot to give an insulin bolus for a sweet treat I consumed and did not realize until it was too late. This was my first time ever getting the above 600 mg/dl reading on my meter. And it is a moment and feeling I never want to experience again.

Yucky

        Immediately I blame myself. It is my responsibility to count carbs and bolus correctly. Diabetes must be on my radar at all times. But a human-being cannot remember everything. Mistakes will be made because nothing is perfect. I must control a function that my body should be able to control on it's own. And it's so HARD. That's the truth. I cannot let diabetes take over my life. These bad moments come for a reason, to remind me to get back on track. One bad day is not the end of the world, but it sure scared me and serves as a reminder that every moment is precious.

Tonight I am praying hard for a cure...

PS: The BG is back in range, and all is well :) 

Show me your pump

          People inspire others every single day. You read about these stories on the news all the time. Usually I don't  pay much attention, but recently a story caught my eye. Sierra Sandison, who was just recently crowned Miss Idaho, wore her T-slim insulin pump out in the open for all to see during the swimsuit competition. People may think that this is no big deal, but in the mind of a T1D this is no small task. It takes extreme courage to put your disease out there in plain site for all to see. I may seem like I am very open with my disease, but my pump is one thing I am self conscious about. Instead of using a pump clip and sticking my pump in my pants pocket, I use a fanny pack type device to conceal it underneath my shirt and am always checking to see if my tubing is hanging out. I don't know why I feel I need to hide it, but it's something I have always done. Deep down I am insecure about having to rely on a device to do something that my body should be capable of doing on it's own.

Pump Selfie 

        Sierra's story has helped me see that if she can wear a bikini on stage in front of thousands of people WITH an insulin pump, then I can casually walk around town with my insulin pump in my pocket for the world to see. She has inspired me not to hide the pride I have for living with Type 1 Diabetes. If people ask questions, I can answer them with confidence knowing I am advocating for a disease that has many misconceptions. Many T1D's acrossed the country have been encouraged by Sierra and there is currently a #showmeyourpump hashtag on instagram where pump users are posting all kinds of selfies with their insulin pumps. Looking at these pictures brings tears to my eyes. It saddens me that we have to wear these devices, but it makes my heart smile knowing we are in this together fighting the same battle, a battle we are winning. SHOW ME YOUR PUMP!

Not normal

Let's not kid ourselves, life with Type 1 diabetes is NOT normal. There is no denying it. 

Pricking your finger 6 times a day is NOT normal

Giving yourself multiple shots a day is NOT normal 

Wearing your pancreas on the outside is NOT normal 

Measuring everything you ingest is NOT normal 

Counting carbs is NOT normal 

Peeing on a stick is NOT normal 

Drinking juice boxes in order to stay alive is NOT normal 

Living this ABNORMAL life comes with challenges but also many victories. 

Everyday is a TREASURE 

Beating high blood sugars is INCREDIBLE 

Teaching others about the disease is a GIFT 

Waterpark Magic and The Power of Friendship

    There are many ways to lower high blood sugar in a T1D. The most common is giving yourself insulin to put yourself back in range. But sometimes you will get a stubborn high that even a boatload of insulin cannot seem to cure. Over the years I have realized that running around a waterpark for a few hours is bound to drop one's BG back into range. Sometimes it drops a little too much, a little too fast.

They have my back all the time :) 

    Recently, my dear friend and I went on a indoor water park adventure. The days prior to that outing I had been having uncharacteristically high BGs even though my carb intake had been low and I was very active. Before entering the park my BG was at about 180 which is ideal before such activity and I had a small uncovered snack. This park had some amazingly cool, fast, and somewhat scary water slides which require walking up steep staircases multiple times carrying inner tubes to slide down on. I felt myself starting to drop at a constant rate but decided to keep going, because once I stopped I knew I would probably not feel well anymore. At one point I finally said to my friend, "look at my hands", which were shaking like a leaf. So she suggested I check right then and there. And I was 50. All I had was a PB&J bar worth 25 carbs. I was not planning on eating all of it because I thought I would just end up high again, but my friend suggested I eat it all so I would not have to stop again. That ended up being the best decision, because after an additional hour of water park fun and the extra carbs, I left the water park with a BG of 65. A little low but nothing a Starbucks treat cannot fix :)
    I am so fortunate to have multiple friends who are eager to learn about how I live and what it takes to live a "normal" life. The friends who notice when I am driving slower than a snail on the road and say "let me drive" because they know I am most likely battling a high BG. The ones who can identify when I am low and are always there when I need to vent. I am so LUCKY to have support like that.

LIFE

     Sometimes I let Diabetes be in my thoughts every moment of every day and am always on edge with numbers, carb counts, and activity level. But then there are the times when real life comes along and steals away attention from D. When other things seem more important and D goes on the back burner for a bit. And I am ok with that. It does not mean I do not care about my health and neglect it, but I just go on auto pilot.
     This summer has been full of unexpected twist and turns. Times when I needed my friends and they needed me. Moments when I was content with a BG of 211 because I was an emotional mess when my puppy past away. Days when I was ok with only consuming 50 carbs the entire 24 hours because I was busy helping a friend move. Occurrences when I did not change my lancet for over a week because I could not find a new one. Situations when my emotions and friends were more important than D. This cannot last forever while continuing to be healthy, so D must take center stage once again. Things are never going to be perfect, and D has taught me that. Life is a roller coaster ride as it is, and D just makes it even more interesting.

Beach Adventure

     Managing diabetes is always crazy. The moment you think you have things under control, a new variable comes into the mix and throws everything off again. And that's just life. My numbers were quite steady all spring, but as always, when the heat of summer begins to return, I get a string of low BGs. I switch to different basal rates for the summer to accommodate this change.
   
     The summer adds another layer of D things to worry about, some that I am still learning. I kicked off the summer season by going to visit one of my dearest friends and fellow T1D, E, at her university which happens to be located right near one of the amazing Great Lakes. Whenever I am with this girl, I can totally be my crazy self. She knows me inside out and there is no way to hide anything from the boss. We can talk about anything and everything, D is quite a popular topic because we can bounce ideas and stories off of each other. She sometimes gives me the reality check that I need. I explained to her that sometimes I will here the low BG alarm on my Dexcom and just ignore it in order continue sleeping instead of getting up and correcting with juice. She reminded me of a recent story on twitter about a young teen dying in her sleep due to a low LG. She told me that I am lucky to have the CGM technology, and it would be better to just drink the juice and go a bit high instead of ignoring the low. I know that in my heart but sometimes these tasks seem like such a burden and it helps having a friend dealing with them right along with you. even though it totally SUCKS.

OUCH 

     I have only taken a handful of trips to the beach in my career with D so far so I am still learning little tips here and there. First, in the past at the beach my meter has not always worked because it became to hot, so we kept them in the cooler in order to prevent them from happening. E also reminded me to keep my pump under a towel or blanket while laying out in the sun to help protect the precious insulin. This is something I have always known, but with my constantly on the go personality, some of these "common sense" D tasks slip my mind ;). A universal beach rule that all people should follow is wearing sunscreen and reapplying every 80 minutes. Somehow, although we did apply sunscreen after arriving at our location, E and I got completely ruined by the sun and ended up with some of the most epic sunburns known to man. We looked pretty funny with our strange burn patterns, especially my insertion set tan line, hee hee!

    I say this all the time but I am so incredibly blessed to have people in my life who just "get me". Not everyone has such wonderful friends, and it is even more rare to have a best friend who shares the same life altering disease with you. It makes this crazy life not seem so scary and unmanageable <3
   

PSA: Dog Collars

      Life is fragile and every moment should be cherished, that is something I learned early on by living with Type 1 Diabetes. Never taken things for granted and live each moment to create lifelong memories. This message can be used in all walk of life including the loss of beloved pets. 8 days after my family brought home our precious 2 month old Boston Terrier puppy, Daisy Mae, she died in a freak accident. 

     Daisy Mae died in her crate after being strangled when her collar and dog leash tag got stuck in the railings of her crate. She was jumping around in there as we left for the morning like she always did and we assume it happened shortly thereafter. It is reported that up to 26,000 collar strangulation accidents occur each year, usually occurring when two dogs “play bite” each other in the neck area and teeth get caught on the collar. Other strangulation hazards can occur when collars get caught in: fences, slats on decks, crates and kennels, heating/ cooling vents, shrubs, and branches. We were never made aware of this risk, so we always just purchased traditional collars for our dogs. I was so amazed that our experienced vet was not aware of the prevalence of this issue. It is a hidden risk for dog owners and I think it is important that awareness is brought to this issue. I highly recommend looking into a break-away collar for your pets. They allow for peace of mind and will release your dog if a dangerous amount of pressure is placed on it. 

    It is so amazing how a five pound fur ball who I only knew for a week has had such an impact on my life. Daisy Mae, thank you for being the calming influence I needed in my life along with cuteness that cannot be topped. Even though you were itty-bitty and your time with us was  so short, you were already such an important part of my family. Always in my heart baby girl, now go enjoy doggie heaven. 

Daisy Mae: March 24, 2014- May 31, 2014 

    Please share this post with your friends and family, dogs are special creatures and together we can keep them safe. 

Daisy Mae

Yesterday, I picked up my new 2 month old Boston Terrier puppy, Daisy Mae, and brought her home. Ever since Diabetes has not been the first thing on my mind. This is good.

LIVE THE MOMENTS!

Twenty Nine

       Today started off better than most. I woke up with a lovely BG of 98. I had cereal with milk for breakfast, and made sure not to bolus in full for it because I was headed to the rink for a morning skate. I was so excited to have the ice to myself and be able to play any music I desired as loud as I wanted.

The best form of therapy 

      The first 20 minutes of the session was grand. I got to mess around with some new music selections, played with some footwork, worked on spins, and did my general warm up. Then it was time to jump. I did a waltz jump, a very simple element in figure skating and I fell. I thought that was very strange, but I went for it again and my legs practically gave out on me. I sat there on the ice for a moment and literally could not feel my legs and my entire body was shaky. I knew I was in trouble. I slowly got up, grabbed my meter off the boards and checked to find my record low BG of twenty nine!

29 is such a scary number, its right on the brink of disaster. It is so scary how fast things can turn. It's days like this when I really hate diabetes. The way it makes me feel and how it can so easily change my plans for the day. I was really motivated to skate today but diabetes had other plans for me. Diabetes stopped me in my tracks and left me feeling weak and tired. The low came up quite quickly thanks to some sour gummy worms and a few glucose tablets, but I did not feel like skating anymore. It made my day 10 times more difficult but I will not say it ruined it.  I will never let diabetes be victorious. 

T1D Humor

       Last night, an interesting hashtag began overflowing my twitter feed.
#DiabetesTaughtMe... This statement was open for any interpretation, but at that moment I needed some humor in my life. So I came up with this witty statement:

You can never have too much juice box humor 

       It is so wonderful that there are others out there that "get" these jokes and that sometimes it is ok to make fun if it. We are all in this lifelong battle together and it is so nice to have an outlet to express feelings about it to others who are also living the D-life. Here are some other tweets that I enjoyed: 

#DiabetesTaughtMe ain't no such thing as a normal feeling. 

#DiabetesTaughtMe that someone is always going to ask me "does that hurt" when giving myself a shot. 

#DiabetesTaughtMe that there will never again be such a thing as a good nights sleep.

Yes, T1D's Can Have Sweets Too

          In just 4 months, my favorite event of the year will be upon us: the JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes (now known as the JDRF One Walk). I attended my first walk just 8 months after my diagnosis, and it was a major eye opener. For the first time I was able to meet many people with T1D and share experiences with them. The event was a happy occasion, but also a solemn reminder of how many people suffer from this disease and how desperately in need of a cure. I am preparing for my 4th walk coming up in september, with the goal of raising $1,000. I truly believe a cure is in the not so distant future and if we work together we will be one step closer to finding it.
       For the second year in a row, I held a bake sale during my city's garage sale weekend to raise funds for JDRF and my walk team, "Morgan's Miracle Makers". This year I was blessed to have my skating family donate homemade baked goods for me to sell. Just that little gesture brings tears to my eyes, I am incredibly blessed to have people in my life that care so deeply about me and are willing to join in my journey of finding a cure.

The Goodies 

      Sitting outside with a poster with the words Type 1 Diabetes on it beside a table full of sweets is bound to get people's attention. Many come up and ask if the treats are all sugar free. This gives me an excellent platform to explain that as a T1D I can eat as much sugar as any other person should. Sweets should come in moderation for everyone. I like to think that along with purchasing a treat, my costumers walk away with a better understanding of T1D. This year, I had one customer that really impacted me. She was a young mother who came up with her infant son. At first she just observed and then quietly stated, "I have type 1 too". Before I knew it, she whipped out her medtronic pumps and we were talking about CGM's. I complimented her on how cute and well mannered her son was. She told me that she had him after having the disease for 16 years and that their were no major complications during the pregnancy besides an increased occurrence of low BGs and her son is healthy. This is something I needed to hear. I try not to think too far into the future but I am happy to know that all things are possible. The bake sale not only helped raise funds for JDRF, but it also allowed me to meet new diabuddies that each have important lessons to share.

If you would like to support my walk team, Morgan's Miracle Makers, please visit my JDRF page by clicking here. Thank You! Together we can find a cure...

D life Hacks #DBlogWeek

Diabetes Blog Week day 5: Share the (non-medical) tips and tricks that help you in the day-to-day management of diabetes.  Tell us everything from clothing modifications, serving size/carb counting tricks to the tried and true Dexcom-in-a-glass trick or the “secret” to turning on a Medtronic pump’s backlight when not on the home-screen (scroll to the bottom of this post). Please remember to give non-medical advice only! (Thank you Rachel of Probably Rachel and Kelley of Below Seven for this topic suggestion.)

            There are many different methods I have come up with to cleverly deal with the big D: 

Care Kit: 

Diabetes is NOT a cute disease by any means, but my stuff deserves to be. I have always used Vera Bradley cosmetic bags to carry my D supplies. They are not only adorable, but have great pockets and the cosmetic bags are lined with plastic to easily clean up any messes. I currently use the Grand Cosmetic. 

Pump Pouches

As a female, I have always looked for a discrete yet functional way to store my pump, since I do not like pockets and I know I would break a pump clip in a hot second. Then I found Too Sweet Boutique, 

and I was sold. My collection is quite extensive ;) 

I do not have many life hacks, but my only advice is to not take yourself too seriously. Diabetes is such a hard disease, I like to find cute, fnny, and functional items to help make the D-life a little sweeter. 

My Mantra- Suck It Up #DBlogWeek

Diabetes Blog Week day 4 prompt: Yesterday we opened up about how diabetes can bring us down. Today let’s share what gets us through a hard day.  Or more specifically, a hard diabetes day.  Is there something positive you tell yourself?  Are there mantras that you fall back on to get you through?  Is there something specific you do when your mood needs a boost?  Maybe we've done that and we can help others do it too? (Thanks to Meri of Our Diabetic Life for suggesting this topic.)

            The number one mantra I have followed all my life is suck it up. This may not seem like a particularly uplifting saying but it has always worked for me. My mom first introduced the phrase to me at the age of 8 as a competitive figure skater. When I would complain about practice or one of my competitors, she would ask me why I am doing it. I would always say I skated because I loved it with every bone in my body. She then explained that there are always going to be tough parts in life but we have to deal with them in order to get to the enjoyable experiences.I also think it could be so much worse and there are millions of people out there dealing with issues much worse than mine. So now when I am complaining to myself about having to do a site change I remind myself to suck it up and get it over with. Diabetes sucks, but my life does not have to. Get through the sucky parts to make the happy parts even happier. The longer I take to complete these D-tasks and the more I worry about them, the less time I will have to continue living the life I want to live. So I will continue to suck it up and enjoy life. 

Mantras and sayings I live by:

Keep calm and treat the number

My worth will not be dictated by a number

Live the moment

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" -Philippians 4:13

"Every human being is the author of his own health or disease" -Buddha