The 5 Most Commonly Asked Questions About My Type 1 Diabetes

Current favorite bathing suit can be found here. 

1. Where do you wear/hide your pump when you are wearing a dress or a bathing suit?  Ah well I have become quite the undercover agent when it comes to concealing my pump in tricky outfits.  When I wear a dress with straps I will use the clear pump clip and clip it in the center of my bra in the front.  So, the pump and infusion tubing are facing down.  I have tried to just shimmy my pump in between the girls inside my bra and that never works and usually results in it falling out when I bend over and me acting like an organ just fell out whenever that does happen ha!  So the clip action is the best.  If I am wearing a dress with a strapless bra or where it is not possible to clip it into the center part of my bra, I will clip the pump to the side of my undies.  This works great if I am wearing a maxi dress or a dress that is not tight on the bottom half.  This obviously does make it almost impossible to bolus in public but a quick trip to the ladies room solves that.  When I wear a bathing suit I usually just tuck it into the bottoms on the side.  I also have to get creative with tucking in the tubing so my kids don't pull it out if we are just playing at the beach or outside of the pool. And then when I get in the water I obviously take my pump off completely.

2.  How did you start eating Paleo and how does it help with your diabetes management?  I have always had issues with grains and legumes and whenever I would eat them in the past they would always without fail cause my blood sugars to spike and then drop.  I could never quite figure out how to cover for them so I just started avoiding those two things pretty much altogether.  So, when the Paleo diet become really popular a few years ago I just figured this would be an easy lifestyle to follow, and it was and still is.  I would say I am not as big of a meat fanatic as the typical Paleo person and I eat more of a vegetable based diet but for me this is the best and easiest way to avoid spikes and to control my blood sugars through my diet. I do still eat cheese because I just can not go through life without putting feta cheese on my salad or having cheese and salami together but other than that I would say I follow about an 80% Paleo diet. My Paleo grocery shopping list can be found here.

3. I notice that you love wine and I would love to know how does alcohol affect your blood sugars?  Okay yes it is no surprise that I love my wine and I am happy to report that for some weird phenomenon wine does nothing to my blood sugars. It does not raise it or lower it.  Maybe I am immune haha.  But, other alcohols can take a major tole on my blood sugars. I avoid beer almost all together because it always spikes me and makes me feel so sluggish because of the gluten and hard alcohol like vodka usually tends to be mixed with drinks that are full of sugar and in turn these tend to make my blood sugars rise and then fall fast several hours later or early in the morning the next day. So when I do drink alcohol I usually just stick to wine.

4.  Did you ever have a diabetes burnout? Yes and I talked about that in great length in this post.

5.  I remember you mentioned you were going to go on a pump vacation a while back.  How did that go?  It lasted only one week and it sucked big time. I was quickly reminded how much I hate doing shots.  Also, because I have had the luxury of bolusing and then snacking with the pump that had to stop with the pump vacation since every time I wanted a snack I had to give myself a shot.  I was also having so many highs and overall I just felt super crappy. So after one short week I decided I will forever love my pump, stop complaining about it and never do that again.

I would love to do a part two to this post so if you have any other questions that you did not see covered I am more than happy to answer them on the next post.

The Highs & Lows of Type 1 Diabetes: How I'm Getting Back on Track After a Not So Great A1C

It's been a little while since I have done any updates on The Highs & Lows of Type 1 Diabetes series and I decided now seemed like a good enough time for a post and an update since I started back on the CGM (continuous glucose monitoring system).

About 2 months ago I went in for my routine blood work where I got my A1C checked. For those of you who are unfamiliar, the A1C is a blood test that provides information about your average blood sugar levels over the past three months.  The lower the number the better.  My results came back not so great. Was I surprised?  Not really. I can be honest with myself and say that I had not been eating as good as I should and guessing when it came to corrections for my insulin pump.  I was basically not making my diabetes a priority and my test results reflected that.

I was on the CGM when I was pregnant with both boys and because of it I had the best A1Cs of my life. During my pregnancies my A1C average was 6, which is awesome.  The only problem with the CGM back then was I felt like after a couple days it wold give me inaccurate readings and the whole process of the insertion was super painful and left ugly marks when it was time to change it and take it out.  So after my pregnancies I got off of it.

My doctor recommended that I get back on the CGM and to be honest, I wasn't too excited about it.  BUT he told me the good news is the new updated Enlite Glucose Sensor is supposed to be wayyyy better than the old one in terms of accuracy, insertion process, longevity of each sensor and pain.  Plus the new sensor sets off alerts if you go too low and will shut off your pump if you remain unresponsive to the alarm, which I thought was another really great new feature.  So I decided to give it a try.

I have been on the sensor for 3 weeks now and it has been night and day in terms of managing my diabetes.  My blood sugars have been awesome and I feel so much better. I am pretty sure this is going to be a permeant thing for me until they come out with something even better.  I have been wearing the sensor on my outer thigh and it does not hurt nor is it irritating in the slightest bit. I don't notice it when I work out, do squats or any other physical activities.

I can't wait to re-do my A1C in the next month or so.

It's World Diabetes Day! + A Few Thoughts and a Weird Selfie

Yes that would be standing on my dining room chair in order to get a decent selfie haha. 

I have had Type 1 Diabetes for 22 years now (you can read my diagnosis story here).  Diabetes in a weird way has made me a healthier person.   Because of diabetes I exercise daily, I eat clean and I think about everything I do when it comes to my body.   Some might think this is a curse but I look at it like a blessing.

My husband is my biggest supporter.  Diabetes can play with your head and make you feel like you are all alone at times so having a good support system to lean (and sometimes cry) on is very important.  I am beyond thankful that Ian is always there for me and helps bring me out of the slumps and the burnouts when they do happen.

Type 1 diabetes should not hold you back in life.  You can still have a beautiful family and do everything that you ever dreamed of doing.  You are in charge of your life and your diabetes.  Your diabetes is not in charge of you.  And all the people said....AMEN!  That just felt necessary ;)

Read more of my Type 1 Diabetes posts here.

The Highs and Lows of Type 1 Diabetes: The Insulin Pump & My Love/Hate Relationship With It

I have been on the insulin pump for about 5 years.  I did a ton of research before I chose which one to go with and I ended up going with the Medtronic MiniMed Insulin Pump.  I love the customer support they offer and all the new advancements that they are constantly making to their products.

Even with all I know now and the different options for other pumps out there I would still go with the MiniMed.  I like that is it small and I can easily hide it in my bra, back jean pocket or attach to the side of my shorts.  I would say that it has drastically helped get me in tighter control and made life much easier.  I can eat snacks when I want and do a correction right there and then.  It comes with me everywhere I go and only comes off when I take a shower or go swimming...or spray tanning ha.  I would also say that it is a must have when you are pregnant since insulin doses are much higher the further along you get and doing a million shots a day would just not be ideal.

But with all that said sometimes (like this week) I just want to rip it out all dramatically, cry, throw it across the room (okay maybe not throw it because it's so expensive) and say screw it and just go back to regular insulin injections.  Most of the time it works great.  I insert my infusion set into the top part of my butt (my favorite spot) hit the start button and we are good to go.  No problems.  But other times (more frequently than I wish) I will insert the infusion set and a shooting pain will go through my body telling me something is wrong.  I will pull it out and blood will start spewing out.  Other times I will insert the infusion set and I think everything is fine.  A few hours later I will test and I will be 300+.  I will take it out and it turns out the infusion set had somehow bent when it was inserted and insulin was never delivered to me.  This is beyond frustrating because I have to do it all over again plus for the remainder of the day I cant eat or do much of anything until I get my blood sugars back on track from something that I did not even cause.  This always seems to happen at inconvenient times too like when I am on vacation or out with my family.  I do always bring a back up just in case but it still puts a major damper in my day.

Now you may be thinking, "Well maybe you are using the wrong infusion set or inserting in the wrong spot?"  The truth is I have tried all of the different kinds and inserted in all kinds of places on my body and it still happens every so often no matter what.  I have told my Endocrinologist about my pump frustrations and told me that sometimes people go on "pump vacations."  This means that for a few weeks or even months you don't use your pump and go back to insulin shots.  I have thought about it but haven't done it yet.  The thought of being without my little gadget that I have been attached to for so long is frightening, but nonetheless the thought is still on my mind.

If you are type 1 diabetic I would love to hear if you struggle with your pump as well and how you deal with it?  I would also love to hear if you have ever taken a pump vacation and what the results were.

See all the posts of this series here.

The Highs & Lows of Type 1 Diabetes: Common Statements/Misconceptions about Type 1 Diabetes That I Feel Compelled to Address

A semi weird picture of me but hey I have type 1 diabetes and this post is about that so it felt relevant.   

I have heard it all and nothing really surprises me anymore.  You can't really get mad at the people addressing the questions or statements because they are just simply uneducated with the world of type 1 diabetes and I prefer to give people the benefit of the doubt when it comes to this kinda stuff.

The following are either questions or statements that people have actually really said to me.  I felt like it was important to clarify and address some of them.

1. "But you're not fat.  How you do have diabetes?"  I will never forget this question asked in high school by a boy a few grades older.
- Type 1 diabetics are not typically overweight.  In fact when I was diagnosed (at age 7) I had lost 10 pounds.  The media often portrays diabetics as being chubby little kids or overweight adults and that is because they are talking about type 2, which is different in terms of diagnosis and overall treatment.  Type 2 is a growing epidemic because of horrible diets and obesity.  Type 2 diabetes is actually preventable and reversable if diet and exercise are made a priority.  Type 1 diabetes is not something that is curable...as of right now.

2. "I've heard diabetics do not live a very long life."
-  I have heard that unhealthy people in general do not live a very long life.  So if you are type 1 diabetic and not making your health a priority then yes, the odds are not in your favor.  BUT if you are healthy and taking care of yourself and making your health a priority then you have an even better chance of living a full life just like anyone else.  So may the odds be ever in your favor :)

3. "I am worried that you might not have healthy children because you are type 1 diabetic."  Yes, this was really said to me by someone close.
- Type 1 diabetics do have a higher chance of miscarriages and complications BUT again if you make the health of you and your baby a full time priority for a full 9 months your odds of having a perfectly  healthy baby are just as good as any one else's.

4. "Your medical bills and insurance must be so expensive!"
- Yep they are there is no way of getting around that.  I am so thankful that I have a husband who makes me a priority and would do anything to make sure I have everything I need.

5. "Oh you're diabetic?! My Grandpa/Grandma had diabetes and lost their leg or went blind because of it!"
- Well thanks for that little story that I have heard a million times.  To be honest, if you have diabetes complications it does not just happen over night.  It takes years of neglect to get to that point.  Diabetes medical advancements have also come a long way since any grandma or grandpa had it so that is also a plus.

If you have ever had someone ask or say something to you that made you say, "What?!" I would love to hear.

See all the posts of this series here.

The Highs and Lows of Type 1 Diabetes: Having a Diabetes Burnout and How I Got Over It

Image via 

A reader recently asked me if I have ever experienced a "burnout," and if so how I got back on the right track.  I loved this question and thought it was really important to address.

The answer is yes.  I have most definitely experienced a diabetes burnout.  It was when I was 18.  I am sure everyones definition of what exactly a burnout means to them is slightly different but my definition of a diabetes burnout means you are just over it, and for a little moment in time you neglect your diabetes.

I moved out with my friend the week after I graduated high school.  We got a little apartment in Huntington Beach where we were both going to school.  Living on my own was exciting.  I made a ton of new friends and started getting my self into a little trouble. Most of my friends were over 21 so I started drinking, staying out super late, eating horrible, testing my blood less frequently and "guessing" when it came to my insulin shots.  I was a mess for a little bit there.  I just wanted diabetes to go away and I was not dealing with it very well.  I remember I would drink a few beers with my friends and then we would order a giant pizza and I would eat it just like I was a regular non diabetic girl.  It started to become normal for me to go really high and then crash late at night.  There was even a few times where I would get low in my apartment and realize I did not have any juice and had to get really creative with weird things in my cupboard or fridge.  I just was not caring about my self like I should have.

My burnout lasted almost a whole year.  I remember feeling tired and depressed because no one really knew what I was going through.  I was over feeling sick and knew I needed to change and start caring about myself again.

My husband has a lot to do with me coming out of my burnout phase.  I have known Ian since I was in elementary school and we had even dated for a brief time in high school but after I moved away we lost contact.  I had come home to visit my family for a few days and randomly ran into him... well not totally randomly but that's for a different post :)  He was HOT (like really really hot) and I was single haha.  He got my number and that night we went out to a movie.  We started spending more and more time together and  soon after we made it official.  He truly cared about me.  He would always ask me how my blood sugars were and would always make sure I had juice with me and in my apartment.  I loved him and the way he loved me made me want to change, so I did.  We became healthy together and it was the best feeling.

Since then whenever I start to have a day or week where I feel overwhelmed or frustrated with my diabetes I remind myself that it's normal and I do not need to feel guilty for having a disease that sometimes does it own thing no matter how hard I try.  For me personally the best way to avoid long burnouts is by making my health a priority.  I do need to exercise and I do need to eat healthy on a daily basis.  I also remind myself that it is okay if I decide to take a few days off from the gym or I want to enjoy a not so healthy meal every now and then.  It is all about balance and when the balance gets thrown off completely that is when I notice I struggle.

If you are type 1 diabetic and have ever experienced a burnout, I would love to hear your story and how you dealt with it.

See all the posts of this series here

The Highs and Lows of Type 1 Diabetes: Extreme Low Blood Sugar & Seizures

This is what a glucagon shot looks like.  It is SO important that to have one in case of an emergency if you are type 1 diabetic.  This will save your life.  

My first seizure was when I was seven years old.  It was only a few months after I was diagnosed with diabetes.  I had a double header soccer game that day.  I remember being so excited because I had scored around 10 goals and my Dad would give me a dollar for every goal I scored.  I was rich haha!

I recently asked my mom to tell me the story of exactly what happened the morning of my first seizure.  This was hard for her to tell me but I am sharing her story so that other parents with type 1 diabetics can be aware.

From my mom's memory:

"You were always active so when you were diagnosed with diabetes we did not want that to change for you, although your dad and I were still unsure exactly how exercise really affected your blood sugars at that point.  You had played two long soccer games that day.  You ate a ton of oranges and had a normal lunch.  We kept your insulin the same as every other day (thats where we went wrong). I did the carb corrections for everything you ate just like we were supposed to.  Your blood sugars that day were good.  They were not too low and never got too high.  That evening you were exhausted.  We checked your blood sugar before you went to bed and it was perfect.  Around 4am I had a weird feeling.  I went upstairs and you were fast asleep.  I looked a little closer and you were sweating.  I checked your blood sugar.  It was 35!  I tried to stay calm and had you walk downstairs with me to get juice.  You were in a daze.  We got downstairs and I told you to sit down on the floor.  I ran to the kitchen as fast as I could while screaming to your Dad to come help me.  Seconds later you were on the floor having a seizure.  We were panicking and didn't know what to do!  We called 911 and they said they would be there as fast as they could but in the mean time they told us it was vital to give you the emergency glucagon shot.  We mixed the medicine up in the little bottle and injected it into your thigh.  You seemed to slowly start to come out of it but you still were not our Lindsay.  After what seemed like forever an ambulance showed up and off we went to the hospital."

I remember feeling so sick the next day.  I also remember feeling like I had been run over by a truck.  My whole body was sore and I just felt weak.  My parents outlook on diabetes had changed after that...for good reason.  Paranoia for them was kicked into overdrive.  From that point on I was only allowed to spend the night at friend's houses whose parents were doctors or nurses, which basically eliminated everyone except a select few.  I can only imagine how scared they must have been and I would have been the exact same way.

My second (and it will be my last) seizure was when I was 14.  It was pretty traumatic.  I was a freshman in high school and on summer break.  That night I had gone out with a group of friends to Denny's.  I ended up doing much more of a correction than I should have that night.  At this time my parents were divorced and I was at my Dad's for the weekend.   I remember waking up in a complete sweat and shaking like a leaf.  I always kept my blood tester next to me on my night stand so I tested.  I was 39. I couldn't get the damn straw out of the plastic wrap to drink my juice.  I was panicking.  I tried to get downstairs as fast as I could.  We had these really steep stairs and I remember getting half way down and my brain was starting to take over.  It was the scariest thing I have ever experienced.  I knew I was going to have a seizure and I was still on the stairs.  I tried screaming out to my Dad but all I could get out was a muffle.  I tried to walk down one more stair while holding onto the rail and my body went stiff.  In my mind I was trying to scream for help but nothing was coming out.  It went black from there.  My Dad did hear my muffle scream...I am pretty sure he woke up to a whisper since my first seizure and thankfully gave me the glucagon shot as fast as he could.  He told me my head was in a pool of blood at the bottom of the stairs and he had no idea where it was coming from.  Turns out I had bitten my tongue really bad.  I woke up not to long after with a team of paramedics around me hooking me up and getting all my vitals.  I was still out of it but I heard one of the paramedics say, "She might have broken her nose and definitely cracked a few teeth."  To this day I still can see all of the faces that were surrounding me as I was waking up.  After a day stay in the hospital I came home.  Thankfully I had not broken my nose but I did indeed crack a few teeth which was fixable.

After that seizure I vowed to never have another one again.  And since then I have gotten even lower at times (I was 29 once while I was pregnant!) and was able to get my act together and treat it as fast as it could.  Now that I am a mom I never go anywhere unless I am prepared for the worst.  I bring my glucagon and never ever leave without tons of juice in my car.

How I am prepared and deal with extreme lows:

• If I test and I am really low I try to stay calm.  The mind is a very powerful thing and I have noticed that if I start to panic my blood sugar will drop even faster and I will start to lose control.  I am in control and that is what I tell myself when I go really low.  
• I treat lows with juice or honey and sometimes both.  I do tend to overcorrect for a low and don't always follow the 15 gram rule (sorry doc) but I would rather be over cautious than not. 
• I always keep a juice box with the straw out next to my bed.  If I feel too low to test I just drink it and worry about testing later. 
• If I am having a day where I exercise more than normal I will lower my insulin and check more frequently. Sometimes I even set an alarm on my pump to wake me up in the middle of the night to test. 
• My husband is the most together person I have ever met and he knows exactly where my glucagon is and how to use it if I ever needed it again.  He has also dealt with me being really low before and has handled it like a champ (more on that later). 
• I have had many talks with Max (my three year old) about me being low.  He understands fully.  He knows where the juice and honey is if I need it and can't get to it.  He also knows not to drink the kids juice boxes in my car.  He is a special little person for sure.  It makes me cry writing this but you must involve your family.  It is so important.

Telling these stories was not easy but I want to share because it can happen.  And the best way to prevent it is to always be over prepared in any situation.

If you are type 1 diabetic and have had an extreme low or seizure I would be so grateful if you shared your story as well.  How do you treat lows and what solutions have you come up with that work the best?

See also:
Exercise and blood sugar management (not as easy as it may seem)
How I prepared for pregnancy 

The Highs and Lows of Type 1 Diabetes: Exercise and Blood Sugar Management (Not as easy as it may seem)

Image via 

I can still remember being seven (the year I was diagnosed with diabetes) and hearing my Dad yell to me in the middle of my soccer game, "ARE YOU LOW?!"  I would shoot him a quick annoyed "I'm okay" look and roll my eyes because I thought he was being over paranoid.  There were a few times though where I was actually low in the middle of a game and my Dad would run out on the soccer field with my blood tester and an already opened juice box, which he told me to drink right away.  I remember feeling embarrassed because everyone would look at me but looking back I can only imagine how terrifying it must have been for my parents to have to solely rely on me recognizing my low or high symptoms.  I also think my parents are amazing for caring as much as they did.

Being active has always been a huge priority in my life.  It not only makes me feel great both physically and mentally but it makes a huge difference when it comes to having tighter control with my diabetes.  But with all that said, having type 1 diabetes can make it quite frustrating at times.  Different activities do different things to my blood sugar and trying to figure out how my body is going to react to certain things can be quite challenging.  Sometimes it seems like no matter what I do, my blood sugars have a mind of their own.  To this day I do not have the whole exercising while maintaining perfect control thing down to a science, but I have figured out what works best for me most of the time.

A few things I do when working out:

• I prefer to have my starting blood sugar around 160 before starting a workout.  This might seem a little high to some but if I start any lower I drop really fast.  If I am on the lower end of the blood sugar spectrum before working out I will have a small snack, such as half of a Larabar to help raise it a little.
• I almost always take off my pump and put it on suspend if I am doing an intense workout.  If I am doing a low intensity workout like Yoga or weight lifting I will put my pump on a 50% temporary basil rate. 
• Running, swimming, dance and spin all make me drop about 30 minutes in, so at the 30 minute mark I stop for a minute and check my blood sugar.  If I have dropped significantly I will eat a couple Cliff Shot Bloks. 
• I have noticed over the years that outside activities on a hot day make my blood sugar drop at a faster than normal rate compared to days where it is cooler outside.  Does anyone else notice or experience this?  So for days where it is hotter than normal I make sure to pay extra attention to my pre/during and post workout blood sugars. 
• I bring my blood tester with my wherever I go.  If I am running outside I will carry it in my hand.  I need a better system for this now that I think of it. 
• If I am running long distances (outside) I always bring a juice box with me as well as another back up source of sugar. 
• I have gotten over the feeling that people are going to think I'm weird if I stop in the middle of spin to check my blood sugar if I feel low.  I know how important it is to take care of a low right away and that is always a priority for me no matter what the situation. 
• If my blood sugar goes high during a workout, I usually will do a small correction and then continue my workout since exercise will naturally bring it down faster. 
• I always check my blood sugar post workout and drink a protein shake to help keep me stable the few hours following.  My favorite protein powder is Joy Rob Whey Protein.  I am the queen of buying crappy protein powders and I am so happy to have finally discovered this one.  I will never switch and it is beyond delicious. 

If you have any questions regarding this specific topic you can leave them below and I will do my best to answer in the comment section.

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

See also:
The Highs and Lows of Type 1 Diabetes: How I Prepared for Pregnancy

The Highs and Lows of Type 1 Diabetes: How I Prepared For Pregnancy

I was 36 weeks pregnant with Max here and my super talented cousin took this picture. 

I wanted a baby so bad.  It was all I could think about.  But I knew because I was type 1 diabetic it would have to be planned and discussed with my doctor first.

About 8 months before trying to get pregnant I met with my endocrinologist.  I told him we were hoping to get pregnant soon.  After reviewing my A1C (a blood test that provides an overall picture of how you're managing your diabetes) he said he didn't recommend it until I got my A1C much lower.  At that time my A1C was 8.7.  Major bummer! I was exercising regularly (I was a running machine), eating somewhat healthy, my weight was great but I can admit that tight blood sugar control was not a huge priority.  I was doing about 5 insulin shots a day back then and was somewhat flippant with when I wanted to do them.  For example, I  would eat a giant bagel for breakfast, spike to 350 and think, "Oh well it will come down after I go running."  I remember feeling normal at around 200, which is not good at all and low at 120.

He told me that if I was to get pregnant now, my chances of having a miscarriage were very high (they are already high even if you have tight control).  He also told me my baby would have a higher chance of having permanent complications that could effect the rest of their life as well as a higher chance of a still born.  Comforting right?  He even gave me specific examples of other girls that did not listen to him and got pregnant anyway and their babies either did not make it or were born with oversized organs (due to the mother having uncontrollable high blood sugars) which were life threatening.  I did not want any of those scenarios to happen and I was ready to make some serious changes in my life.

Up until that day I had been anti insulin pump.  The idea of wearing a pager sized device at all times tucked into my back jean pocket, poking out of my bra while wearing a dress or having a visible tube connected to my thigh while I was at the beach in my bikini did not sound awesome but I knew I had to have one regardless if I thought it looked cool or not.

I left the appointment that day with a prescription for an insulin pump and a continuos glucose monitoring system.   A few days later a lady came to my house and got me all trained.  I was officially connected to a pump and a separate little gadget that I wore on my stomach called a continuous glucose monitoring system.  That night I went to bed with my first ever pump tucked into my sports bra.

It took about a week to get used to it but I noticed my blood sugars were improving almost instantly.  I became even more military with my diet.  I cut out starchy carbs almost completely since no matter what I always spike after eating them and I continued to exercise.  I thought about every little thing I did and how it might effect my blood sugars.  It felt good caring so much about my diabetes because I knew I was ultimately doing it for our future baby.  About 4 months later my A1c was 6.9.  My doctor said he would like it even tighter (geeeeeze doc) but gave me the green light to start trying! Now the fun part...kidding I won't go there ;)

4 long months later (I am not a patient person) we found out I was pregnant!  I remember waking up that morning and thinking, "OH NO I HAVE THE FLU!"...but three positive pregnancy tests later we realized it was not the flu and we were going to have a baby!  We cried, laughed and no idea what this diabetic pregnancy journey was going to look like but ready or not we were on the train.

If you are type 1 diabetic and thinking about getting pregnant here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Plan it.  While surprises might be exciting for your non-diabetic best friend, it is not the best idea when you are type 1. 
• Meet with your doctor and tell him you want to start trying.  Get your A1C up to date and make sure you have the green light from him or her. 
• If you are able to get on the insulin pump, do it!  You will not regret it and it will make managing your diabetes so much easier while pregnant. 
• Get serious about your diet.  I personally cut out high carb foods and anything else that would spike my blood sugars.  I had no idea what the Paleo diet was back then, but if I knew about it I would have been doing that without a doubt. 

In future posts I will also be including more about how I dealt with my blood sugars during pregnancy (the weird spikes and the scary lows), how I dealt with morning (ALL freaking day) sickness, insulin changes, what I ate and more.

On a side note:  This series will not be in any specific order because my brain does not work that way.   Instead, I will be sharing different topics based on what comes to mind that particular week.  But if there is anything in particular that you are really curious about please let me know in the comment section. 

You can read the first post of the series here.

* I am not a doctor, I am simply sharing my personal story and what has and hasn't worked for me with type 1 diabetes. If you are thinking of changing anything regarding your diabetes management it is always best to talk to your doctor first. 

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

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.

Monica Vesci Camino Clutch Giveaway! (CLOSED)

You know what I love?  I love a beautiful quality clutch with lots of pockets inside for all my diabetic supplies.  But the problem is, most clutches are usually not designed with a type one diabetic in mind (go figure ha).  All of the clutches I own either have no pockets or just one and by the end of the night it is almost guaranteed that any clutch I bring along with me looks like a complete disaster zone.  There is usually an array of used test strips, lancets and more floating around the bottom.

So when Monica Vesci contacted me and told me about her just launched Camino Clutch line made with type 1 diabetics in mind I was thrilled!  And when I received my new clutch in the mail I was just blown away at what a brilliant design it really is.  Each clutch is made with gorgeous fabric and Italian leather trim.  Now the best part...the clutches include a hidden discreet disposable sharps container and special little pockets for all your supplies.  No more letting all those used test trips and lancets float around the bottom of your purse!

And today you have a chance to win one for yourself!  You do not need to be type 1 diabetic to enter this giveaway, but if you are you will appreciate the inside for sure! 

How you can win a Monica Vesci Camino Clutch: You MUST

• Visit Monica Vesci and come back and leave a comment letting me know which clutch you would like to win. 
•  Like Monica Vesci on Facebook

 Extra entries (please leave a separate comment for each):

• Leave a comment telling me what you would most likely put in the sharps container (whether it's bobby pins, change, test strips, vitamins etc..) 
• Follow Monica Vesci on Twitter

Open to US readers only.  

A winner will be selected at random and announced at the bottom of this Friday's post so make sure to check back.

Questions Regarding My Life With Type 1 Diabetes Part 2

Today I am sharing part two of the questions that were left on this post.  You can read part one here. 

Are there any alternative therapies you believe are supportive of your diabetes management?  I know you've written about the value of apple cider vinegar (I've seen a positive impact on my blood sugar as well). Any other things you find helpful - supplements, foods etc. thanks!
Yes, apple cider vinegar for sure.  I notice that when I drink it before a meal my post meal blood sugar is much lower compared to when I eat the same thing and do not drink the apple cider vinegar.  I also have found that liquid stevia (I put it in my coffee and smoothies), matcha green tea powder and chia seeds all help to lower and control my blood sugar.  Chia seeds is actually the weirdest thing yet as far as alternative therapies go.  Sometimes if my blood sugar is a little on the higher side I will have a small bowl of chia seed pudding (1/4 cup of chia seeds, unsweetened almond milk, stevia and cinnamon) and with just a tiny correction of insulin my blood sugar always comes down.  It is the craziest thing!

Just wanted to say that you are looking great post baby, great work! Do you attribute this to the Paleo diet you have started more recently? What type of exercise do you? 
Well thank you!  I attribute my post baby weight loss to a combination of eating clean (Paleo) and working out.  I truly believe that you really must do a combination of both in order to get results with weight loss.  I do a lot of running, spin class at my gym and I recently started weight training, which I feel has made the biggest difference in my body post baby.  I have also made it a priority to involve my family with exercise on the weekends.  We love to go hiking, go on family bike rides, bring the boys to the park and throw around a frisbee etc.  Over all for me it's about making exercise fun and involving my family so everyone benefits.

Do you have suggestions for low carb snacks and easy lunch ideas (Paleo)?
Here are a few snack ideas:  almonds, a can of tuna, turkey jerky (my favorite), superfood energy balls, a spoonful on almond or sunflower seed butter dipped in roasted flax seeds (amazing), avocado sprinkled with nutritional yeast, hard boiled eggs and coconut milk yogurt.

Here are a few lunch ideas: baked or grilled salmon (I make this for dinner and make extra for lunch), spinach salad with whatever fixings on it you like, lettuce wraps with ground turkey and veggies, cauliflower or tomato soup, protein style hamburger (everything except the bread) and low carb smoothies or protein shakes if you are short on time.

I know getting getting my a1c under better control is #1, but what other advice do you have for  a T1 woman, hoping to have a baby down the road?  
Start planning financially.  There is no price on a child but just be aware that being pregnant while being T1 is very expensive even if you have great health insurance.  

Any experience with juicing and how to adjust for carb counts?  
Yes, you can read all about it here and here. I did a carb correction for the fruit and higher carb vegetables in each smoothie ex...apples, kiwis, carrots and oranges.  If I was unsure about the exact carb count I looked it up online.

Did you have to switch to carb counting when you started using a pump? If so, how difficult of an adjustment was it? 
I have been carb counting since I was diagnosed at seven years old, so when I switched to the pump it was a really easy transition for me.  But if you are new to carb counting and thinking about getting the pump there is SO much support and help from your doctor and the pump specialists that it will soon become second nature to you.

Do your boys eat the same way as you (paleo)? 
I would say my boys eat Paleo 80% of the time.  I love to cook and try to make all the meals my husband and two year old love but with healthy Paleo alternatives.  But with that said we are totally normal and have treats and non Paleo things from time to time.  

Well that sums up all your questions!  I hope I was able to give you a little more insight on what has worked for me and how I am managing my type 1 diabetes.

Coping With Type 1 Diabetes & Your Questions Answered Part 1

Photo taken by Emily Tingley

I had such a great response to this post regarding my life with type 1 diabetes that I have decided to break up the questions I received into two separate posts.  So here is part one!  

How has eating Paleo affected your diabetes? 
It has helped stabilize my blood sugars and my A1C is the best it has ever been since eating this way. 

Do you keep a food diary and BG log? (this question came from a mom, whose 7 year old daughter was recently diagnosed with diabetes).
I have had diabetes for so long that I no longer do this, BUT it you are newly diagnosed this is is great way for you and your doctor to keep track of everything you are doing. 

Do you snack? 
Yes.  I am a total snack-aholic.  But I choose my snacks wisely.  I snack on almonds, mixed nuts, baked cauliflower, turkey slices, green beans, avocado, cucumbers with hummus (hummus is not Paleo but I freakin love hummus) and celery with almond butter. 

Do you have any specific recommendations for a pump?
I have a Paradigm Revel Insulin Pump from Medtronic. It is the only type of pump that I have ever used and I love it.

Do you wear your pump ALL the time - or are there moments you take it off and use injections (ex. exercising, swimming, etc...)
I take my pump off when I am exercisising as well as when I am swimming or at the beach.

Were you able to breast feed?  I've heard that diabetics produce milk differently...
Yes I am able to breast feed and had no problems with either one of my sons.  I did notice with both boys that in the beginning stages of nursing my blood sugar would go super low each time I nursed so I was constantly snacking in order to keep them stable.  My body has now adjusted but that is something to keep in mind for first time nursing moms.

What other suggestions/recommendations do you have for someone wanting children and has Type 1 Diabetes (other than keeping my A1C under 7%, which I have been for a few years now). Anything you wished someone had told you?
Get ready to become military with your diet.  Really try to not give into those foods that will spike your blood sugar.  Remember that this short 9 months of pregnancy determines the rest of your future child's life.  Eating a giant bag of M&Ms or wanting to binge on Taco Bell (those were my pregnancy cravings) might seem like a great idea at the moment but it's just not worth it to put your baby in danger by having high blood sugars.  Secondly, be prepared to go through the hardest 9 months of your life in terms of diabetes management but know that all the sacrifices you make to stay healthy and all the extra testing and doctor's appointments (twice weekly) are all worth it once you see your perfect little baby in the end.

I was wondering if you would be willing to share your pregnancy journey with type 1 and what changes did you notice in your blood sugar control?   
I would love to share my pregnancy journey!  Since that is a story all on it's own I will save that for another post.  During both pregnancies I noticed I became a lot more insulin resistant, especially in the beginning.  The slightest change in my diet while pregnant would send my blood sugars into the high zone.  I learned my lesson with the second pregnancy and stuck to the SAME thing every day diet, which was boring let me tell ya.  I drank this smoothie every single morning and it really helped with the weird don phenomenon high blood sugar spike I saw a lot with the first pregnancy.

How do you manage your weight, specifically how you have lost weight while on insulin therapy? "As I'm sure you, and all the other ladies on here know, it's a difficult balancing act to workout, eat, and dose insulin! None of us are the same, but I'm interested in what has worked well for you."
There is no magic answer for this.  I work my ass off.  If I don't work out and eat right I gain weight and it all goes straight to my butt!  I work out at the gym five days a week.  I am a big runner and I also incorporate weight lifting into my workouts. I am also really really strict with what I eat and what has worked for me is to stay away from refined carbs and I avoid almost all dairy.

I'd love to hear about your fears and how you manage them. Also, how do you handle your diabetes care around your children...
One of my biggest fears is getting low and having a seizure while with my children and they don't know what to do and as a result something happens to them.  I manage this fear by always being way over prepared wherever I go.  I always have tons of juice boxes (in my purse, in my glove compartment, in my diaper bag, in my trunk etc...) and I never go anywhere without some source of sugar. I also have talked to Max extensively about how to tell someone I was diabetic if something was ever to happen.  He can say perfectly, "Mommy has diabetes, and Mommy is low."  It is SO important to teach your kids about diabetes if you have it.  I struggled with this for a long time and did not want my children to ever feel "responsible" for me but I have realized how crucial it is to be real and open with them. 

Could you please share your favorite resources related to diabetes and health?
Ah I wish I had a better answer for this but I really don't have any favorite resources.  I do read TONS of health magazines and books but not ones that are specifically geared towards diabetes.

Would you put your child on the same diet as you (Paleo) if he had T1D? 
Yes.

It has always been a challenge for me to find the motivation to work out. Do you have any tips in that area? 
Find some kind of physical activity that you enjoy and just do it.  If you are not a gym person try walking around the neighborhood with your friends, taking up a dance class, attempt home workout videos or join your local rec center and swim.  You will feel so much better mentally and physically if you find the time to exercise.

Thank you to all who left great questions! If you left a question that was not yet answered be sure to check back on part two. 

Coping With Type 1 Diabetes

As most of you know I am type I diabetic.  Much different than type two, which is the one you almost always hear about in the news.  I can not cure myself.  I will have this for the rest of my life.    For those of you who are new here I was diagnosed at seven years old and I am now 27.  You can read about my diagnosis story here.  I was very blessed to be able to have 2 healthy boys and I continue on a daily basis to try and maintain the best control possible, because it is so important for me to be healthy for my family. I want to live a long healthy life and I do not want diabetes to hold me back or hinder any of my goals or aspirations ever.  I am very strict with what I eat and I exercise daily, not because I am vain (well I am a little vain haha) but because it is so important for my blood sugar control.

I receive such a wonderful outpouring of e-mails on a daily basis from other type 1 diabetics wanting to know what I do, where I wear I pump and wanting words of encouragement because they may be struggling with this disease, which can sometimes leave you feeling like you are all alone.  Being a mom of two crazy little boys sometimes makes it impossible to respond to everyone and I am SO sorry if I have not gotten back to you but it does not mean I did not read your e-mail and was not thinking about you. 

So today I wanted to reach out to everyone, type 1 diabetic or not and let you ask me whatever questions you may have, right here in the comment section.  I will respond to every question in a follow up post. 

The sweetest story

This is not a typical Friday post for me but sometimes I like to switch things up a bit and this was too sweet not to share...

A thoughtful reader recently e-mailed me this picture of two parents who got insulin pump tattoos on their bellies to show their type 1 diabetic son that he is not alone and different. This totally made me cry.

I can relate to this because I remember when I was seven years old and diagnosed with type 1 diabetes I felt different from everyone else too. Although my parents did not get tattoos they did everything in their power to make me feel as normal as possible. I had a cool bright pink caboodle (remember those?) where I kept all my diabetic supplies, I went to diabetic camp every summer (so much fun) and I had a really nice custom made medic alert bracelet that made me feel like I was just wearing a pretty bracelet. They also always encouraged me to play sports and do everything else that other kids were doing.

No matter what life throws at you having supportive parents definitely makes things easier to get through.

You can read the full story here.

On a side note: It has been a crazy week around here. My poor little Max is so sick. It drives me NUTS when other Moms bring their snotty sick kids to the gym with them, so that's most likely where he caught it. Today we are headed to the Dr to hopefully get all fixed up!

Living With Type 1 Diabetes

I never want to come off as someone who has constant rainbows shooting out of my butt...because that's not real life, and I want this blog to represent me...all of me.

Being Type 1 diabetic is a BIG part of my life, and I have felt recently that I wanted to share a little more about that side of me. I have also received quite a few e-mails from other type 1 diabetics asking if I could talk about it more.

I have been diabetic for 19 years. I was diagnosed when I was 7. My symptoms were:

• I lost a significant amount of weight
• Had no energy
• Was extremely thirsty
• Wanted to sleep all the time
• I was irritable
• I was starving (because my blood sugars were up in the 800s..which is near death range) and had to pee every 10 minutes due to the high amount of sugar that was in my bloodstream.

My Mom and Dad thought I had a bladder infection (because I was going to the restroom every 10 minutes) so they took me to my pediatrician. He knew right away something was wrong. He tested by blood and told my parents to sit down. He said, "She has Juvenile Diabetes (different from type 2) we need to get her to the hospital as soon as possible." My Mom fainted! Yep..

The Dr. told me I would have to spend a little time in the hospital in order to get better. I was scared. Hospitals are where people go to die (in my 7 year old brain that's what I thought). I found out a few years later that I would have most likely gone into a permanent coma if I was diagnosed any later.

I took one last shower before we left for the hospital and I remember standing there crying. Why was God letting this happen to me? My Mom and Dad packed me a suitcase and off we went.

I stayed at Children's Hospital in San Diego for one week. I still remember to this day the sweet nurses that helped me understand what I was going through and what I would have to do.

I had to start doing shots (4 a day) and testing my blood sugar every hour or so. I got to practice on my Dad. He would let me inject his arm with saline every time I had to do an insulin shot so I did not feel alone. Looking back, that makes me smile.

I remember asking, "When will I get better?" The kind nurses gently told me that I was going to have to do this for the rest of my life. I grew up a lot that week at Children's Hospital, I knew things were going to be different.

I have definitely had some scary moments with diabetes. I have had three seizures due to low blood sugar. My parents were always worried about me and sleepovers did not happen when I was little unless one of the parents was either a Dr. or a Nurse.

Fast forward to today.

I am a healthy, married 26 year old woman with a perfectly healthy 16 month old son with another baby on the way. Diabetes is a huge part of my life and it is something that I deal with everyday. Everything I eat and do I have to think about.

Yes I still have moments where I feel scared and weak and wish diabetes would just go away, BUT I know God gave this to me to somehow help others that may be feeling like they are all alone in the world of diabetes.


If you have any questions please comment below and if you would like more information visit the American Diabetes Association.

Skinny Mashed Potatoes

Mashed potatoes are one of my favorite things to eat on Thanksgiving, but this year since I am pregnant and on a really strict low carb diet (for my diabetes) real mashed potatoes are out (bummer).

I recently started researching alternatives to some of my favorite dishes because there is NO way my plate will be without a big ole pile of mash potatoes.

I came across this recipe that uses cauliflower instead of potatoes. Hmmm not a big cauliflower fan so I wasn't sure. If there is a choice of either celery or cauliflower in a veggie dish 9 times out of 10 I will choose the celery. BUT I decided to give it a try since the reviews were outstanding.

***BEST MOCK mashed potatoes I have ever had!***

What you will need:

• 1 head of cauliflower
• 1 tablespoon of cream cheese
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/2 teaspoon of minced garlic
• 1/2 teaspoon of salt
• 5 or so dashes of pepper
• Chives for garnish
  

Directions:

1. Wash and cut cauliflower into small pieces. Boil in a pot of water for about 10-15 minutes or until soft and cooked.
2. Drain and dry using paper towels. Immediately place in food processor or blender. You do not want the cauliflower to cool.
3. Puree the cauliflower with the cream cheese, Parmesan cheese, garlic, salt and pepper.
4. Sprinkle the top with chives and a few dashes of pepper. Serve!
   

These were seriously unbelievable! I will definitely be making these for Thanksgiving. They were creamy and smooth, just like mashed potatoes should be. Such a delicious alternative... plus you don't need to feel guilty if you go back for seconds or thirds since they are virtually carb free! This is also a great side dish to bring if you still plan on making the real thing.

Things That Make Me Say Yeay

So what exactly is this bumble bee looking device? Its a life saver...literally. It is called a continuous glucose monitoring system. It attaches to my stomach and I wear it 24 hours a day while pregnant. It uses wireless technology and displays my blood sugar readings on my insulin pump every five minutes. My new sensor just came in the mail this week and I could not be more excited....even if it does look like I have two belly buttons (which my nephew pointed out).

Max was Max from Where The Wild Things Are for Halloween. I felt like it was a pretty fitting little costume.

I have been OBSESSED with orange flavored tic tacs.

These two boys mowing Grandpa's grass (weeds).

A new cozy sweater that I have been wearing everywhere.

Have a wonderful weekend! Any fun plans? I plan on relaxing and not doing anything...love those kind of weekends.

Skinny Spaghetti

There is no denying that a delicious bowl of pasta is satisfying and delicious...but did you know that you can still have "pasta" without the carb overload?

Spaghetti squash is a delicious and healthy alternative that is high in fiber and low in calories. Once cooked the inside of a spaghetti squash looks just like pasta and you can make it however you would normally make a pasta dish.

There are several ways to cook a spaghetti squash. You can microwave it, bake it, boil it or crock pot it. I pierced it with a knife several times (if you don't pierce it you will end up with a squash explosion..yes this happened to me one time when I tried to microwave it) and boiled it whole for about an hour.

Once it has cooked and cooled, cut it in half and remove the seeds. Use a fork to scoop out the spaghetti. If you want you can bake the seeds just like you would with pumpkin seeds.

You can season it however you want! I used a little olive oil, feta cheese, diced tomatoes, basil, onions, salt and pepper.

Having Faith

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I know I have been a little MIA this week on the blog. For starters my computer decided to poop out on me and you cant really blog without a computer and secondly I received some not so good news on Monday.

My Dr. who helps manage my diabetes called to tell me my recent blood tests came back and the results indicated that my diabetes management is not where it should be in order to have a healthy pregnancy.

I panicked and had a mini melt down.

What if something happens to my baby? I would feel like it would be completely my fault.

As a type 1 diabetic (different from type 2) pregnancy is considered very high risk. Your risk of miscarriage is increased as well as your baby developing abnormalities if your blood sugars are not under tight control.

I prayed and realized I have to have faith in God. He is the only one that can predict the outcome of a situation.

Pregnancy is a blessing and I truly believe God only gives you what you can handle. I know I can handle this.

Yes I would love to eat a nice toasted bagel for breakfast...with a side of Taco Bell but that is just not possible. Its time for me to go into military mode as far as my diet goes. Its low carb smoothies for breakfast if it sounds good or not.

The reality is I only have one shot at determining the outcome of our future baby.

There is no try only DO...My husband Ian always tells me that. It's a quote from Star Wars apparently.


On a side note: It is NOVEMBER! My two favorite holidays are approaching and I could not be more excited about that.