IT ISN'T ALWAYS GRACEFUL, BUT IT'S MY JOURNEY

I wouldn't say I was dealing with DIABETES BURNOUT (see HERE).

It was just that my Uncle who has been living with Type 1 Diabetes for 50 years was scheduled for a quadruple bi-pass the next day...and a friend from high school's daughter was just diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes...and from out of no where, my blood sugar was in the upper 300's and no amount of insulin would bring it down.

All of a sudden there was too much Diabetes around me...and Diabetes was making me MAD!

I was MAD for my Uncle's sake.

I was MAD for this 6 year old girl's interrupted childhood.

I was MAD at Diabetes.

I try to not let Diabetes dictate me emotions. I like to think that I'm in control of everything around me and that I can calmly and rationally react and decide my feelings before I actually feel and express them. I often downplay Diabetes for the world watching, acting like Diabetes is no big deal.

But every now and then I feel a bit defeated. For a few moments I say, "OK, Diabetes, you win!"
And then I cry...a lot.

Diabetes is planning 24/7, fists clenched and held up high, ready to punch and jab and anticipate the ugly blood sugar's next moves and twists and turns. It doesn't ALWAYS FEEL like I'm fighting and holding my breathe...but on occasions ...it all piles up.

After I cry for a little bit and have myself a good pity-party, I brush myself off and remember that tomorrow is always a brand new day... a fresh start...a new opportunity for great blood sugar control.

Life with Diabetes is definitely a marathon, a journey that is best taken moment by moment.

My boss emailed our team this quote a while back. I don't know who the original author is, but I have it posted at my desk and read it often, helping me put life with Diabetes in perspective:

no matter how rough the road, may it be a graceful journey.
may acceptance bring peace to circumstances beyond our control.
may we find more strength than we realized.
may the simple things inspire the most joy.
may love be all that matters.
may gratitude empower our spirits and may faith help us overcome.

{source}

GUEST POST {@DIABETES MINE}: OVERCOMING BURNOUT

Today I'm hanging out with the cool kids of the DOC {Diabetes Online Community} over at Diabetes Mine.

Seriously... Amy and Allison are ROCK STARS when it comes to
all things Diabetes {they're kind of a BIG deal!}.

They've taught me much and have been a great source of inspiration and motivation for me.

I am honored and delighted to get to guest post about my recent journey with Diabetes burnout.

Diabetes is HARD. Burnout Happens.

Check out the Five Ways That I Got Over Diabetes Burnout over at Diabetes Mine!!!



{source}



RUN {JEN-NAY} RUN!!! (say it like forrest gump would say it)

It's not always about working out the right muscle...

It's mostly about finding the workout machine that holds all of my annoying diabetes paraphernalia stuff!!!

I'm back in the swing of things with working out.
M-W-F = Ballet/Strength Training
T-H-St = Running/Cardio
{And fitting some yoga in when I can.}

It's definitely a lesson in patience and trial and error
...and I now remember why I stopped working out for a few years!!!


{source}


When asked what I'd do if I didn't have Diabetes, most people would guess that I'd eat desserts, pizza, pasta, (foods that are not always kind/easy on the blood sugar) all day long.

In fact, I'd almost do the opposite.

I'd wake up and go for a run.
I wouldn't have to check my blood sugar.
I wouldn't have to meticulously plan out the next 6 hours leading up to a workout.
I wouldn't have to carefully calculate carbs or stalk my blood sugar leading up to the time of exercise.

I would just run...

{source}

I'd run as the sun came up.


{source}

  I'd run up mountains.
(not having to looking at my CGM every 5 minutes to see what direction my blood sugar was heading).

{source}

I'd run as carefree as a child.



{source}

 I'd run until the sun went down.


{source}

 Then I'd run home and do nothing.
I wouldn't have to check my blood sugar.
I wouldn't have to correct with insulin if high.
I wouldn't have to swig juice and glucose tablets if low.
I wouldn't have to wake myself up in the middle of the night,
wondering how exercising is affecting my blood sugar 8 hours later.

I would just sit and do nothing.



{source}

 Ok...then I'd eat an entire pan of tiramisu!!!

THE SUGARLESS PLUM

"I'm not saying it's easy and I'm not saying I wouldn't jump for joy if there were a cure found tomorrow. But I can honestly say I feel blessed to live in a time when there are so many resources that allow me and so many others to live full, healthy, passion-filled lives."

~Zippora Karz, The Sugarless Plum




{source}

This was on my reading wishlist for quite some time before my mom bought it for me last Christmas. One of my favorite reads of 2010, I couldn't put this down and finished it in 2 days.



Zippora Karz's story was very inspiring and part of what helped lift me out of my last Diabetes Funk.

As a ballerina in the New York City Ballet, she had everything going for her at the young age of 18. She didn't let Diabetes stop her when she was diagnosed (w/Type 1) at the age of 21.



{source}

 Zippora's attitude of determination and perseverance is just what I needed to read about. Her quote above is such a great perspective to have. It's people like Zippora that inspire and encourage me to not let Diabetes stand in the way.

{source}

And now I want to be a ballerina too!!!

A CLEAN START

A few months ago I hit the wall of Diabetes Burn-out.
I stopped blogging about Diabetes and I stopped reading other blogs about Diabetes.

I wasn't depressed and I functioned just fine. My #'s weren't out of control and I was still taking care of myself.

But for some reason, I didn't want to blog or read about Diabetes.

I just needed a little break.

While my Google Reader filled up with unread posts from the DOC, I slowly gained a new perspective.

I began experimenting with a more RAW and VEGAN diet, my a1c came down, I took part in Diabetes Support Groups, and somehow Diabetes didn't seem like such a big deal.
 

So here I am with a CLEAN START, ready to continue sharing about my journey with Diabetes again.

This blog is still a work in progress, but I'm hoping to be more consistent this time!!!

All the content from my La Dolce Vita blog has been transferred over and I'll eventually delete that link.

Sign up for email alerts,

follow me via Google Friend/Connect,

add me to your Google Reader, or

periodically check in here.

It's good to be back...thanks for your patience while I was gone.