Two Years to Type 1 Diabetes

It's amazing what a difference one little year makes. This time last year, I was "celebrating" my one year diaversary and reflecting on some realizations I had in my first year as a type 1 diabetic (that article can be found here if you're interested). After re-reading that post, all of those things I reflected on still hold true today. BUT - there have been some MAJOR advances in my thinking as well. As fate would have it, my two year anniversary happens to fall on the same date as the JDRF Imagine Gala, which I am so fortunate to be able to attend tonight (thank you, JR!). As always, the goal is still finding (and funding) a cure. If you happen to be moved by any of this, or just want to support the cause, you can donate directly to JDRF's Fund A Cure here - and if you do so, please let me know so I can properly THANK YOU!

So here we go...

1. Get a Pump! Or at Least Look Into Getting One...
I literally NEVER thought I would be the person to get a pump. I hated the idea of having something constantly attached to my body. I wasn't taking much insulin daily anyways, and my numbers were decent enough (a1c has consistently been under 7%) that I thought I didn't need one. I tried it out anyways and seriously... game changer. My numbers are so much better since being on the pump and I definitely don't miss the multiple daily injections. The ease and accuracy at which you can dose insulin has made a world of difference in my life and pens are now a thing of the past. Pumping changed my life.

2. The Value of Nutrition
This area is fairly new to me in relation to diabetes because I thought I had it all figured out (eat less carbs, and your

variability decreases, therefore decreasing the chances that your numbers will be all over the place). But, there's so much new research out there regarding how your body burns fat just as well as it burns glucose (also known as being in ketosis, not to be confused with ketoacidosis). There's still a lot I have to learn here so I won't spend a lot of time on it, but the bottom line is this: NUTRITION is the single most important factor in managing diabetes successfully. Every doctor will tell you that you can eat what you want (and you can) but eating what you want will not make you feel and perform at your best. I'm trying to be my best each and every day and the only way to do that is through nutrition. There's just no cutting corners on this one.

3. Don't Hide the Fact That You're Type 1!
Listen... let me put a disclaimer on this one. This is 100% a personal choice, but let me tell you why I choose not to keep it as a secret. I am currently taking the last of my prerequisite classes for nursing school (eek!) and we were looking at blood smears under the microscope trying to identify white blood cells. The class was curious about how those slides are made, and our professor wanted to show us but couldn't find a needle in the classroom to prick his finger. I sort of became the weird kid in class who just happened to have a finger stick in my purse, because DUH. So my professor then says "Let's talk later, I wrote a whole book on diabetes." Um, what?! He's a neurosurgeon and he wrote a book on diabetes. Turns out, he has an interesting perspective on diabetes and I never would have been able to learn from him had I not disclosed my condition in a classroom of strangers.
*Side note on this - one of my classmates thought I was going to pass whatever was "in my blood" to my professor by doing that. And like... I know I never change the lancet for myself, but come on! Oh and also, diabetes isn't contagious. Face palm. But, it was a moment I had to educate him a little bit about diabetes so I'll take that as a win.

4. When Your Passions Come Full Circle as a Wake-up Call From the Big Man Upstairs
In September I was fortunate enough to find an amazing diabetes doctor in Anne Peters, who believes in me sometimes more than I believe in myself. At my very first appointment with her, she kept asking me why I wasn't in medicine because I have this natural ability for understanding it all. That conversation sparked up a decade old dream that once upon a time began with a pre-med major at UCLA. I failed chemistry my first year and thought that maybe science just wasn't for me. Never mind the fact that I couldn't put down my neuroscience book and called my mom after every class to tell her EVERY SINGLE THING I learned that day. I ended up quitting pre-med because of that one class. This might sound crazy but there are times when I believe God gave me diabetes as a wake-up call, one that was meant to reinvigorate my love of science and stimulate this deep, burning desire that I have to go and make a real difference in the lives of other people. Whether or not you believe in God isn't really the point here. The point is that sometimes it takes years to figure out your place in this world. And sometimes that means you are on the verge of entering your 30s as you return to school. Again. For the third time. (Insert nervous breakdown here). Ha - just kidding! :)

5. The Hardest Part about Having Type 1 for Me
I was only diagnosed two years ago, and I lived 27 years without it. But I cannot for the life of me remember what life was like before all the finger pricks and the insulin injections and the carb counting. I look at other people eating whatever they want and I envy them for a moment, not because I want to eat what they're eating, but because I can't even remember what that was like to not have to make a million decisions a day. So for me, the hardest part about having diabetes has been having to make choices that I never had to make before.

Silver Linings
In some ways, it's gotten harder to be diabetic because "the more I learn, the more I realize how much I don't know" (hello Albert Einstein). The thing that I want people to understand about diabetes is that it is different for every person. Doctors, educators and your peers can only give you so much information and advice but at the end of the day, we're all guinea pigs (or lab rats) in one giant science experiment - and we're each our own researcher. We're also our own advocates, our own doctors, our own voice, and our own teachers. You're going to have to experiment on yourself to find out what works best for YOU and it's going to take years to figure it out. But hey, don't give up though okay because diabetes doesn't own you. The strength that comes from having to take control of your own life is unbelievable and I've grown in ways I never thought possible. I am so incredibly thankful to be alive.

Manage it in a way that it fits your life.

Got questions or comments?! I'd love to hear from you! Find me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram...@explora_torrey

xo
Torrey 

PS - As always, thank you Alicia for saving my life :) 
And thank you from the bottom of my heart to my friends and family who have stuck by my side through this journey and have put up with me through all the blood sugar rollercoaster rides. Love you all!

10 Life Lessons After One Year with Type 1 Diabetes (The Good, the Bad & the Ugly!)

May 14, 2014: 
"You have type one diabetes."

May 14, 2015: 
I've got a ton of visible little holes in my fingers from the 2,190 finger pricks I've done in the past year, and the 1,400 insulin injections usually leave pretty little blue bruises on my thighs and stomach. I'm a regular at the pharmacy and getting my blood drawn is a normal thing for me these days- I don't even pass out from it anymore!

I've counted thousands and thousands of carbs (not calories) and spent over $1,500 from my own pocket (after what I thought was good insurance) for doctor visits and medications. I make decisions on what and when to eat, how much insulin to give, and what kind of exercise I should do based on an educated-guess-kind-of-a-system that sometimes works and sometimes doesn't. And I live with type 1 diabetes 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days a year.

The way I see it, diabetes is a lot like coaching basketball (which I have been doing for the past 8 years). Basketball is an avenue I use to teach kids about important life lessons. Diabetes has turned out to be the same kind of avenue for me. It's my path, my journey, my fight- and it's only a small part of who I am at the end of the day.

But even with all these numbers and constant reminders that I no longer lead a "normal" life, I want to share with you my top 10 reflections on my first year with type 1 diabetes, because it's not all bad!

 
1. Hunger and Low Blood Sugar are NOT the Same Thing (but they sometimes feel that way...) 
I'll admit it- I'm one of those "hangry" people that suffers in intolerable ways from being hungry. Headaches, mood swings, sweating, shaking.... Sounds like an episode of hypoglycemia, right? If I've ever let myself go too long without eating, I'll find myself with these symptoms and in a panic, I immediately check my blood sugar convinced that it must be low- and sometimes it is. But sometimes, I'm just fine. Be patient, recognize the difference and as much as possible, be prepared to eat or treat either way.

2. Low Blood Sugars Aren't a Treat, and You Shouldn't Treat Them with a Treat 
I started wanting to induce lows so I could have some cookies because I felt like that was the only way I could indulge in some of the sweet treats I used to enjoy. But to be honest, when my blood sugar is low, I don't even enjoy the cookies because I'm usually shoving my face full of them to try and bring my blood sugar back up as fast as possible. Treat with glucose tabs or shot blocks and have a plan so when you're low you don't panic in the moment.

3. You Can Pretend You Don't Have Diabetes, but it Doesn't Make it Disappear
This is the honest truth of my disease and for everyone with type 1. I like cookies and ice cream just as much as you and there are definitely times where I just don't want to count the carbs and dose the insulin. I just don't. But (and this is a BIG BUT- no pun intended)- with anything in life, it works out better for you when you accept the truth of the matter and face it head on. Don't lie to yourself because it doesn't make the truth any less real.

4.  YOU Must Be Your Own Advocate and Do Your Own Research
If you don't like your doctor, change doctors. And don't feel bad about your decision. This is YOUR life. Your doctors will give you a plan but they don't live with it like you do- trust your instincts and do your own research. Be responsible for your own self. I know it's a mountain, but you are capable of this!

5. Diabetes Doesn't Have to be a Death Sentence...
...but It's Still Okay to Cry
A couple weeks ago I tested my blood sugar and even after I thought I had done everything right, I was still high as a kite. Insert <<insta-tears>> here. Why me? Why didn't it work? What did I do wrong? And the most important question... why can't I just enjoy Mexican food anymore?! It's okay and normal to feel frustrated- crying is acceptable! So is hating this disease. It's awful. It's stressful. And it never sleeps or lets up. Accept it, feel it, live it and then learn to move on from that moment.

6. Discipline is Crucial and Don't Let Others Make You Feel Guilty For It 
You don't eat the homemade cookies at work (here I go with the cookies again...) because of what it will do to your blood sugar, not because you are worried about gaining a few extra pounds. Don't let others make you feel guilty for choosing a salad over a sandwich. If you don't want to eat the carbs that day, don't eat them. Their issues with food are not yours- let them go.

7. Learn to Trust, Let Go and Laugh (for life cannot be controlled)
Relying on something to keep you alive is so scary! When I've accidentally left the house without my insulin or testing supplies, I've never felt more dependent in my whole life. And even though I'd like to think I can go through life jumping all these hurdles alone, feeling vulnerable in those moments has taught me how to let go and trust a bit more in all areas of my life. It's okay to rely on other people. Build a support system and cherish those who are a part of it.

8. Make Type 1 Friends, but Try to Find a Connection Between the Two of You That Isn't Diabetes Related
Plain and simple, because you are not defined by your diabetes and there is so much more to life.

Speaking of life...

9. Life is Short, With or Without Diabetes (so make sure you cherish every moment)
One day you will wake up and there won't be any time left to do the things you've always wanted to do. (-Paulo Coelho) This is true for everyone, not just us type 1's (but don't let diabetes steal your sunshine). Learn to truly LIVE and to truly LOVE- the possibilities are endless.

10. Don't Ever Accept the Status Quo that We'll Have Diabetes Forever
**It's a dangerous thing to be content with something you're not happy with. Read that line again. And again if you have to. It's a dangerous thing to be content with something you're not happy with.

I encourage you to get involved in a cause and look into donating or volunteering your time and/or services. Be the voice of the future. Just because there isn't a cure now does not mean there will never be one. We have the power to get involved in events that raise funds and awareness, that support research in finding a cure. Don't rely on the doctors and scientists to be the only ones actively seeking new cures and treatments. You don't have to have gone to medical school to influence the diabetes community. There are plenty of ways to get involved.

Be an active participant in your own life and find a way to see the silver linings that are always around us!

xo,
T

The Scary Truth about Insulin Induced Lows

If you have ever had a hypoglycemic episode, you might feel kinda like the monster from Frozen. Seriously, this is me with low blood sugar. Ask my sister.

Since my diagnosis seven months ago, I've been able to keep my blood sugars pretty stable with the occasional high after special occasions like Thanksgiving or my birthday party. I take two units of Lantus in the morning and two units at night. I only take Novolog if I'm over 200 before eating- which has been rare as I've tried to stick to a very high protein/high fat/low carb diet (less than 100 grams a day).  Couple that with consistent exercise, and I've been able to maintain an average of 4-8 units of insulin per day and last time I went in, my A1C was 6.3. Not bad, not bad at all.

Until last night. I had some pita bread with my chicken and squash for dinner and three hours later, I was at 238. The last two times I've taken Novolog (after Thanksgiving dinner being one), NOTHING happened. Four hours later, I was still really high and had to take more. So I took two units, felt fine, and went to sleep. I woke up at 12:30am completely soaked in sweat. I scrambled to find my glasses and my meter (turns out being blind and diabetic isn't such a great combo during nighttime hypo moments) and checked my sugar. As I was waiting patiently for the five second (or lifetime) delay, I felt myself getting worse by the second. Then the number popped up on the screen. 48.

I have never been lower than 68 since I started testing. Those lows were usually exercise induced and I was prepared for them. But 48?! I couldn't believe it. So, like any newly diagnosed diabetic, I binged on ghirardelli dark & sea salt caramel chocolate squares. After the first one, I didn't feel any better. So I ate another. And another. And then I looked at the nutrition and saw that three squares was only 23 grams of carbs. So I had one more. And then I ate some pita bread. I was desperate to get my blood sugar back up and had no idea how much I needed to feel better.

When you're diagnosed with diabetes, they don't tell you how much sugar you actually need to correct a low. They should give you some kind of timeline, like eat a piece of chocolate and test 15 minutes later, and then if you're still low eat another. And maybe some doctors do tell you this- mine didn't. On top of that, you're in complete freak out mode that you're going to go into a diabetic coma and have to call the paramedics and the only thing you can think about is that number on the screen going up- and FAST.

Needless to say, I woke up this morning worse than I started last night. 282. I decided I would take two more units to level off and then have a normal (ha!) day. Why I decided to take two more units is beyond me- I guess I thought that I was higher than I was the night before and I was remembering how the Novolog doesn't always seem to work. An hour later I was at 108, which was perfect. Made myself some eggs and coffee and packed up my bag for work. Twenty minutes later, I was dripping in sweat once again. Shaking and blacking in and out. Tears were streaming down my cheeks as I pricked my finger and struggled to align the drop of blood with the testing strip. Nothing is more frustrating than not being able to function when you know you have to in order to save your own life. (I apologize for the dramatics, but it's true!)

5. 4. 3. 2. 1. A new number popped up. 44. This time, remembering how I screwed myself last night and not wanting to soar high again, I ate one Clif shot block (which I use for long distance running training) and waited 15 minutes. By the way, those 15 minutes move about as quickly or as slowly as molasses. Or quicksand. Or a goddamn snail trying to cross the road. I'm over here, face literally dripping sweat beads onto my lap, hands shaking, shirt soaked through once again and I have to wait 15 minutes. 77. So I eat another one. My panic turns to a relief that leaves me in tears; tears of frustration, tears of gratitude that the worst is over, and terrified tears. Lows are scary.  And, I've spent the entire day feeling like I have the flu, minus the whole fever/nausea thing.

This is the reality of living with type one diabetes. I don't tell you all of this because I want you to feel bad for me. I don't feel bad for me. I tell you this so you understand that there are repercussions for every single thing I eat. It's just a small piece of cake right? Just one piece of pizza? Just take some insulin with it and you'll be fine, right? Too much insulin or a wrong guess on how much I should take could kill me.

 After this year's Thanksgiving dinner where I ate the same foods as my sister (AND I even said no to my own garlic mashed potatoes) my blood sugar was 335 and hers was 108. The point is this: A diabetic doesn't get days off. You don't get to splurge on holiday meals without feeling it in one way or another later on. And yes, the doctors tell you that you can eat whatever you want as long as you take insulin for it and to an extent, I believe that to be true. But what happens when insulin doesn't work one time and the next time you take it, you bottom out and either end up in tears or in the hospital? I feel like a guinea pig when it comes to treatment. Diabetes is unpredictable, misunderstood, and insulin injections paint your stomach with bruises bigger than quarters.

I can positively say that I am now healthier because of diabetes- but it hasn't been an easy road. I can only speak for myself but I think as a diabetic, we just want people to understand that it's never just one piece of cake. And insulin isn't the answer to all of our problems.

It's all one big learning curve, and I'm determined to not be defined by diabetes. I still make hot cocoa on cold, rainy nights and I still bring cookies to share at work. I still eat pizza and I'll probably never give up egg nog (holidays on the brain to blame for that one). Life is too short to be controlled by a number and it's too beautiful to live without some indulgent experiences. In fact, our experiences are what makes our lives so beautiful.

So cheers to YOU and living the best life you can every single moment. Cheers to not beating yourself up over a bad choice or a bad day, but to understanding that we are all just painting our own pictures with our own colors.

Lastly, thank you to my sister who sat by my side this morning to make sure I was ok and in turn, forgot her coffee on her dresser when she left for work. Love you Momo!

Be kind, love someone today and Happy Holidays!

xo
T