dear D

dear diabetes,
today, i hate you. i hate you more than i've ever hated you in the past 10 year relationship we've unwillingly shared. i don't know what else to do to appease you. i feel like i've tried it all and i'm so frustrated it doesn't seem to be working. i want to throw my hands up in the air and scream "i'm done!" but i won't because i know i'm not. i'm just tired... tired of dealing with you and the stress and carb counting and insulin ratios and pretending like it's all ok. it's not ok. i'm not ok. please, please, please go away and leave me alone! although that is unlikely, please just behave so i can continue living my life.

sincerely,
not your bff

i.f.

so since saturday i've been trying a new "diet". it's more of a change in eating times than an actual diet. it's called intermittent fasting and the idea is that you only eat between 11am - 7pm or noon - 8pm... so far it hasn't really been too difficult. last night i needed some orange juice "after hours" bc my b.s. was too low to go to sleep at. and this morning i had some coffee and made my way into the office. so far so good. my bs also seems to be in slightly better control bc i haven't let myself eat past 8pm (something my doc in Miami told me to do anyway). thoughts? do you think that eating late has a serious effect on your b.s. too?

aahhh!!!

warning: i may offend you.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39798848/ns/health-diabetes

...these kinds of stories make me SO ANGRY! "1 in 3 people living in the US will have TYPE 2 diabetes by 2050." Know why!? Because Americans just keep getting fatter and fatter and lazier and lazier. Proof is in the pants size. Yes, there is a percentage of the type 2 population that is at a greater risk due to genetics, blah blah and not because they are fat and lazy... but nowadays, that is not the case, generally. Get off your butt and get to a gym people. Workout. Wake up your pancreas and tell diabetes buh bye. Know why?! BECAUSE I CAN'T!!!! If I could simply not ever have to inject myself ever again by going to the gym everyday & eating healthy, know what I'd do? Yup. Go to the gym. every.freaking.day. But oh wait. I do. And I still have diabetes - TYPE 1 DIABETES. yay.

I am so sick of telling people that 'no, there are 2 types of diabetes and i'm type 1, not type 2' then explaining the difference because no one seems to know unless they have a family member with type 1. ugh. As I've said before type 2 needs a new name. It's not the same. Our conditions were not created equal.

When will type 1 diabetes get the recognition it deserves!? When was the last census taken solely of people living with type 1 diabetes in this great nation of ours and not clustered both into the same category of "diabetes"? I've yet to see actual numbers that separate the two. It's always a rough estimate of the actual type 1s based on the 10% rule of the reported cluster.

While I'm at it.... What's a girl got to do to get people to donate to diabetes causes like they do to cancer causes? Breast cancer has a color. Guess what, so does diabetes. Know what it is?! Know the IDF symbol for diabetes? Just how many lifestyle choice/preventable diseases will the government continue funding whilst over-looking other biological conditions like MS and type 1 diabetes.... ::sigh::

I'd say I'd give up but I can't. I'm not done fighting this battle yet.

you have been warned. and maybe offended. and i don't care.

work it out

here are 3 of my newest favoritest blogs out there in regards to nutrition and exercise!
http://www.leangains.com/

http://firthfitness.com/

http://www.myomytv.com/

i really think these are some of the best tips out there... covers everything from kettle bell workouts to irish stew to new ways of thinking about "dieting". healthy changes = healthy lifestyle. as a person living with diabetes, the two most important things i do for myself are working out (at least 5x/week) and eating a healthy diet (with some occasional cheating). so get out there, grab some weights and get to it!

In these changing times, make a renewed commitment to yourself to lead a healthy life. Here are some tips to help you find balance, stay focused and gain perspective. IT'S THE MIND OF THE TIMES.

1. Exercise When you exercise you are present in the moment and not focused on worries and concerns. Studies show that cardiovascular and resistance training can help reduce stress and boost endorphins. Try a minimum of 30 minutes of vigorous exercise most days of the week.
2.Get enough sleep Insufficient sleep can make it more difficult to cope with the normal challenges of daily life. Most adults need 7-8 hours of sleep to function optimally.
3. Eat well A balanced diet high in fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean proteins can help reduce stress by stabilizing blood sugar levels. Combine carbohydrates, protein and healthy fats at each meal to fuel and energize your body.
4. Pay it forward Studies show that people who approach life with a positive attitude are less stressed. Begin and end every day by making a mental list of the things for which you are grateful.
5. Live in the moment Accept that some things are out of your control. Rather than worrying about what will happen next week, next month or next year, focus on making decisions that will lead you in the direction of your goals.
6. Get organized Being disorganized can add to your stress level. Knowing where things are and reducing clutter lets you focus on the important things.
7. Meditate Studies show that people who meditate regularly have more activity in their left frontal cortex and less activity in the amygdala – both of which are associated with calmer emotional states. There are many ways to meditate. Practice yoga, take a walk in nature, sit quietly, spend time with your pet or take a bubble bath.
8. Say no when necessary Avoid taking on more than you can accomplish. Do not feel guilty saying “no” to unnecessary obligations and responsibilities.
9. Hydrate Drink plenty of water throughout the day. Water regulates body temperature, aids in the absorption of vitamins and nutrients and detoxifies the liver and kidneys.
10. Lean on your support system People who have a strong social network of family and friends typically report less stress and a better ability to cope. Don’t be afraid to ask for support from close friends and family during these times.
(from the equinox.com site)

keep moving!

endo schmindo

looking for a new endo in the DC metro area... anyone have one they love?! when i lived here a couple of years ago i never found one i really liked...
i just started keeping a log again, hopefully this time i'll actually make myself do it. it really is very helpful to see all of your numbers in one little book. i tried to track them in an iPhone app but wasn't too successful at that.

progress.

charity fair

just an FYI. AYUDA will be at the CVC Charity Fair this Wednesday in Richmond, VA. "Give from the Heart 2010" is their slogan this time around and I really, truley hope that you find it in your heart to donate to this worthy, life-saving cause. Need more info on AYUDA? Check us out ---> www.ayudainc.net
Details, details...
Where: 101 North 14th St., Richmond, VA.
When: Wed., October 20 from 9am to 2pm
Why: To learn more about this and other worthy NGOs

priorities

it seems that people are all too focused on politics in this day in age - on race, on sides, on everything except what is important - living a healthy, meaningful life.
can't we all just get along?!

let's focus all this energy on something more meaningful - on research, on jobs, on life. i don't know about you but i would like to not have diabetes one day, a job tomorrow and a healthy life! what's it going to take?

[i think i'd forgotten how much i semi-anonymously love going on rants. it's good to be back.]

por fa please

I am alive today because of the insulin I inject myself with on a daily basis. I have met kids who do not have that "luxury". Living a healthy life should not be a luxury, it is a right - for every human being not matter their age, race, nationality. I have met kids who were literally dying because they had no insulin - on dialysis at 20 years old. What kind of life is that? Having seizures multiple times per month because they were never properly educated on how insulin works and how to use it. What kind of life is that? As a person with diabetes, I know what it's like to live with this condition but others - like the kids I work with in Ecuador - aren't so lucky. The daily ups and downs of diabetes is a constant struggle and to add the cost of medications and test strips and doctors visits on top of all that can, at times, be too much to bear. But, today, I am alive because I am able to inject myself with insulin - daily. 24/7/365. This is my reality and I want it to be the reality of the children with diabetes in Ecuador (until there's a cure). Insulin isn't a luxury. It's the life of a child, a friend, a sister, a father. Insulin is life.





Please help with a small donation or even by just passing along this message. you have to power to improve someone's health - someone's life.





"A lack of education is just as dangerous as a lack of insulin".





To donate please visit: www.firstgiving.com/julieburke or http://www.ayudainc.net/ and mention "Julie" or "Pancreatically Challenged" or both in the memo :)





Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

happy birthday.