A New Series: The Highs and Lows of Type 1 Diabetes

Wednesday, January 8, 2014





I am starting a new series on my blog called, "The Highs and Lows of Type 1 Diabetes." For those of you who do not know, I have had type 1 diabetes for 21 years.  You can read all about my diagnosis story here.  When I was diagnosed at the age of seven years old people said to my Mom and Dad, "Aw are you sad that your daughter may not be able to have children?" Yes, people really said that to them and they told me later in life.  At 28 years old I am beyond thankful to say I am a wife to an incredibly supportive husband who "gets it" and I am a mother of two perfectly healthy little boys ages 3 1/2 and 18 months.

With this new series I will be sharing a more in depth look at how diabetes impacts my life. I will share my struggles, along with the good and how exactly I deal with it and what works for me.

My first post will be next week.

If there is any topic (nothing diabetes related will be off limits) you would like me to cover please leave a comment below so I can make sure to incorporate it into a post.

*If you are thinking of changing anything regarding your diabetes management it is always best to talk to your Endocrinologist first.

22 comments:

Melissa I. said...

Lindsay, I thank you for making this a series. My niece Abby was diagnosed with type 1 when she was 3. She is now 15. I know your series will give me a better understanding of what she goes through and what she may go through in the future.

Anonymous said...

This is great! Thank you for doing this.

Jodi4554 said...

Very excited to read this series!! I found your site 2 years ago when my son was diagnosed at age 6. We love your recipes! Thanks for sharing your personal experiences with us!

Sarah said...

I love that you'll be doing this! I'm 36 weeks pregnant with our first, 28 years old, and type one 14 years. It can be such a sensitive part of life to share, but people like me who don't know many type 1s love being able to read and relate!! I searched tirelessly for blogs on pregnancy and type 1 diabetes before we started trying and I'm so thankful to anyone who puts themselves out there sharing and educating about being a healthy and happy person with type one diabetes! Really looking forward to the series! Looking forward to the clean eating recipes too, we've been switching ourselves over to this lifestyle this last month. Happy New Year!


Anonymous said...

I am a mother to three-year old Matthew who was diagnosed w/ T1D at age two. I am always hearing from other mothers whose children have T1D but never straight from the source- this will be awesome!

I'd love to better understand the feelings (physical & emotional) of having high & low blood sugar & if there is a difference from dropping low quickly & to a more steady drop. Also: Hydrating options to get rid of keotones, daily routines that work well to keep your blood sugar in check.... we love your raw cider elixir. Such a great idea, thanks for doing this.

Sami said...

Can't wait for this! I'm 23, and have only been T1 for three years. My husband and I would love to start our own little family someday, and I'd really like to hear more from a T1 who has been through two successful pregnancies. Thanks for being so open!

Life Happens said...

Would love to hear how pregnancy affected your diabetes and what types of food you eat to maintain. I had gestational diabetes when I was pregnant with my first son. I am now 6 wks pregnat with baby #2. I know GD is different from Type 1 (somewhat), but I'd still love to hear what you have to share. :)

Simply LKJ said...

Lindsay, I know so many will benefit from your knowledge and experience. Good for you for putting something so personal out there!! While we don't have anyone in our family with type 1, both my dad and uncle (my dad's brother) have type 2.

Dan and Steph said...

I am a 32 year old mother of 2. I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes 2 years ago. I like to make most of our food from scratch. I believe it is a much healthier way to eat, but I often struggle figuring out how to count carbs in homemade meals. I enjoy your recipes, and really appreciate it when you include a carb count. It would be nice to read a breakdown of how you figure out the carbs, and how we can do the same thing at home, or when we are eating at a friends house.

Ashton said...

I am so excited for this series, Lindsay! I was definitely encouraged when your blog was recommended to me...knowing that you had successful and healthy pregnancies.
I think for women that live with Type 1 we always have that question in the back of our minds if we will be able to have children. And it's just really comforting and motivating to hear stories like yours. It gives a lot of hope! :)

Lindsay said...

Your helping so many Linds. This is awesome! xoxo

Unknown said...

Like others have said, as a Type 1, it is just so refreshing to hear a first hand perspective from someone who's been through the things that others of us may be afraid of or weary of (like pregnancy). I really appreciate you opening up about it and would love to hear about anything you are willing to share.

I emailed you a while back when we were trying, and now, we're pregnant! Your meal plans have been invaluable. I would also be interested in how you carb count for home-made meals.

Thanks for making this blog!

SHUG IN BOOTS {Beth} said...

yay! YAY! and YaY! I can't wait for any and all of these, and I'm sure I'll think of specific "requests" later on, but for now, since we are trying, I am pretty obsessed with anything Type 1/pregnancy related. Specifically - what were your sugars like in 1st trimester? How soon after conception did you notice a shift? (I've heard both ends of the spectrum - people whose sugars sky-rocketed, and those whose sugars were low the whole 1st trimester.) So, I'm a control freak, and that obviously freaks me out.
Thanks for doing this!!!

meggie said...

I am a TI mother of one 18 month old expecting number 2. I have also had TI for over 20 years. I am interested in hearing more about how you get along with your endocrinologist as it relates to your diet. I have been eating paleo for over 4 years now and my husband is very involved in the community. However it was difficult for me to find an endo that was ok with me NOT living by the ADA's food guide suggestions and I would love to hear your thoughts on this!

meggie said...

I am a TI mother of one 18 month old expecting number 2. I have also had TI for over 20 years. I am interested in hearing more about how you get along with your endocrinologist as it relates to your diet. I have been eating paleo for over 4 years now and my husband is very involved in the community. However it was difficult for me to find an endo that was ok with me NOT living by the ADA's food guide suggestions and I would love to hear your thoughts on this!

Anonymous said...

Would you say Paleo has helped your blood sugars stay stable more so than low carb?
Thanks, Felicia

Elizabeth said...

I'm really excited about this series! I have type 1 diabetes as well, and love learning more from others with the disease. I'm too lazy to scroll up and read everyone's comments, so forgive me if I have any repeats, but here are some things I'd love to hear you talk more about:

-have you ever experienced "burnout"? What's the worse control you've been in (like A1C-wise) due to burnout, and how did you kick your ass in gear and get in better control?

-do you take any preventative medications--like stuff for kidneys--or do you just try to maintain tight control and worry about complications if and when they pop up?

-how was pregnancy? Was it a lot of work to maintain the tight control necessary? And did the pregnancies cause any damage/push you a bit further into complications?

-do you really notice a difference in your control when you're exercising versus not exercising?

-what are some books you've read that have helped you? or blogs?

-do you get a lot of infections---specifically UTI or yeast--and if so, how do you try to prevent them other than maintaining tight control?

-how much do you rely on your partner? does he know, for example, how to test your blood sugar, what to do based on the result, etc. etc.?

Lots of questions...sorry! If I think of more I'll let you know.

Thanks for sharing such a private and often times very difficult and emotional struggle. It really means a lot to those of us out here who go through it as well.

Honor Youngs said...

Thrilled!

I'm 27, type 1 for 8 years, with a sister - 22, type 1 for 14 years. I get so much out of following your blog already, but I think your new addition will be incredibly helpful to me.

My main areas of interest deal with diet and exercise. For example, when you started eating paleo, did your insulin requirements drop a ton? And did you change your insulin doses before or during the transition?

Exercise tends to be my biggest struggle with maintaining a level blood sugar. I've always lead a highly active lifestyle and enjoy running, HIIT training, strength training, etc - I was wondering if you eat certain things before specific kinds of exercise that help maintain sugar levels, if you go for extended periods with no insulin, if you ever have too little insulin during exercise and end up with very high readings later on - and pretty much anything else you'd be willing to share.

Honestly, you're such an inspiration to me. To see the success you've had with the control of your lifestyle is so encouraging!

Thank you!

Unknown said...

Just found your blog through a friend. I am very interested and excited to get more information and a new perspective on Type 1. My 11 year old daughter just got diagnosed about 4 months ago. The minutes the words came out of the doctor's mouth -- (as a mother) the first thing that ran through my mind was how this would affect her future family, children, and life. It was and still is a devastating experience but we are gaining more and more hope and a positive outlook every day from hearing more great stories about happy, healthy, and thriving type 1 diabetics like yourself. Thank you!

Anonymous said...

Lindsay,
I loved the photo of your beautiful family. As a type 2 diabetic I appreciate your lower carb paleo recipes. Like the cakes etc. in a mug.
Merri Lee Stetson

Anonymous said...

Need tips to help me (mom) help my 15 yr old stay on track taking care of herself and avoid burnout, and how to prepare for her leaving for college in a short 3 years. And any tips of what not to do. Thank you for sharing, I will be sharing this with my daughter too.

Jeanette said...

At 48 years young, having T1 diabetes for 37 years, I have had my trials with this disease. After being diagnosed with Celiac disease 5 years ago, I have really looked into the benefits of healthy eating to reduce inflammation, which I believe is the "Pandora's Box" of diseases & cancers. I think you're right on with the paleo diet to reduce inflammation & keep blood sugars down. I have been gluten free for 5 years & still have inflammation problems & stomach problems. I tried a bean/legume diet from nutritionist Karen R. Hurd diligently for 8 months & while having some good results, still didn't solve my inflammation issues. Finally, have gone paleo & hope to see progress. I'll keep you posted. Wondering if other T1 diabetics are struggling with inflammation (rashy, itchy skin, etc.)?

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