Featured Blogger of the Week - June 31- July 6, Post #2

Featured Blogger of the Week: June 31 - July 6

Rachel Baumgartel, Tales of my 30's  & Diabetes Daily 

Post #2

I don’t follow one way or another of eating for diabetes.  I’ve experimented with low carb (under 80 g) and it didn’t work for me – I was tired all the time and didn’t exercise nearly enough.  In fact, I ended up with my highest A1C ever as well as higher triglycerides after this little experiment.  

Some would have you believe that low carb is gospel.  That’s great – if it works for them.  But if you’re like me, you may not thrive on such a diet.  And that’s okay – there are other ways.  

I guess my way of eating is a hybrid between lower carb and lower fat – the good stuff all in moderation.  I practice portion control and consume 100-150 g carb per day.  Exercising 4 or 5 days a week is also part of my diabetes and heart health plan.  There is a family history of early heart disease in the absence of diabetes that I don’t wish to repeat.  I find exercise along with limited dairy plays an integral role in reining in cholesterol levels.  

I listen to what my body tells me.  One week, I may not eat red meat - the next, completely vegetarian.  Along with all this, I allow myself to enjoy a treat now and then.  Sometimes it’s a cupcake, sometimes it’s the bread I learned to create and bake alongside my dad, sometimes it’s ice cream.  I’d go bonkers if I restricted these from my diet permanently.    

So this is how I take control of my T2 diabetes.  I suppose it’s a form of intuitive eating.

I don’t expect everyone to do it my way.  There’s Bernstein, there’s Atkins, there’s vegetarian/vegan, there’s raw food, and there’s intuitive eating, of course.  I’ve heard of people meeting success lowering their blood sugars all of these ways.   Wow – people getting healthy in spite of their diabetes – I love to hear it!  

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If you would like to be a featured blogger please send an email to diabetesoc@gmail.com and put FEATURED BLOGGER in the subject.

Featured Blogger of the Week - June 31- July 6, Post #1

Featured Blogger of the Week: June 31 - July 6

Rachel Baumgartel, Tales of my 30's

Post #1

You may already know me from Diabetes Daily and/or Tales of my Thirties. I was diagnosed with T2 diabetes in March 2005, shortly before my 29^th birthday and after living with a pre-diabetic warning of sorts since 2001. My husband just happens to have T1 diabetes, diagnosed way back in March 1986 at age eleven. We marked seven years of marriage in April and will be celebrating thirteen years of long-distance dating, then “roommates with benefits”, then engagement, and now marriage.

Other than that, just how much do you know?

Did you know…? Well before I met my T1 husband in 1996, I had an elementary school friend with the condition. Her mom would give presentations at the beginning of each school year for the kids in M’s class so that we’d know what to do if M became hypoglycemic. That came in handy in fifth grade when I was witness to a seizure she had due to a low blood sugar in the school’s hallway. One classmate ran and got a teacher, while I made sure she wasn’t in danger of being hurt. Anyhow, the knowledge I gained from knowing M has been useful at times with Greg, though treatment of T1 is so vastly different than back in the mid-80’s.

Did you know…? It wasn’t until I graduated college and kept living the same life as a college student that I gained a lot of weight. I didn’t keep my activity level up as it had been, but I was eating the same kind of convenience foods from the college days. There may have been an underactive thyroid involved, too – I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism a couple months before diabetes. I still haven’t been able to get my weight down to where I was in college, but I’m not sure I’d want to be underweight again, anyways.

Did you know…? T2 has made me forget all the horrible experiences of gym class. I love walking, hiking, and swimming as well as using my trusty elliptical and balance ball. I’d love to do a triathlon if I can get my dorky swimming under control, along with being more comfortable on a bike. I know it would please my dad to see me take golf lessons, too. Oh, and if there’s a game of kickball at the company picnic, I’m in.

Did you know…? Finding the OC was very instrumental in getting me writing again. Although I’d been blogging for a while, it gave me purpose. I’ve expanded into food blogging and have been thinking about a plot for an intelligent chick lit novel. (Let’s not forget the amateur feline photographer I’ve become!) It’s unfortunate that it had to be T2 that brought me back around to writing after a long absence, but I needed something to write about.

There you go. Four things I either haven’t blogged about or haven’t blogged enough about over the years.

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If you would like to be a featured blogger please send an email to diabetesoc@gmail.com and put FEATURED BLOGGER in the subject.

Featured Blogger of the Week - June 21 -27, Post #3

Featured Blogger of the Week: June 21 - 27

Christopher Snider, A Consequence of Hypoglycemia

Post #3

Care for a trip in the way-back machine? After my job thankfully transitioned me away from the harsh realities of living out of a suitcase, I welcomed my transition to sitting behind a desk. I began resuming my vigorous weight lifting routine, started eating health....ier, and overall took my Diabetes management more seriously than I had in the previous couple of years. Yes, years.

Jump Cut to New Years Eve/Day. The ball drop was meh. Celebrated with friends, but didn't really celebrate it. Not to say that I was depressed or anything, but I wasn't feeling too jovial. Actually I was far from it, I needed something to happen, something to fill a void. What is that quote from Ghandi? "You must be the change you wish to see in the world." Maybe change in the world is too tall a task, but I needed a change.

After spending some time alternating blank stares at my keyboard and monitor, I committed to starting a blog. Something to get my frustrations out in the open. A way to voice my complaints, my fears, my desires, (almost) everything. The inherent anonymity of the Internet offers a level of comfort that can yield a surprising amount of honesty if you are willing to commit to it. But first things first, my blog needed a title.

Just like everyone knows a Cowboy Needs a Horse, a blog needs a catchy title. I wish I had kept notes of the different titles I had crossed off before settling on 'A Consequence of Hypoglycemia' but I knew I wanted something that stood out, and involved a common word or phrase used among Diabetics. If the search results that have led to my blog are any indicator, I have chosen...wisely. Now my eager-readers might say "But Chris, what about the actual link to your blog? What's the deal with 'tobesugarfree'?"

Well I'm glad you asked. SugarFree was one of my unofficial nicknames after diagnosis. It was catchy, and I ran with it. My usernames on gaming websites, my Xbox Live gamertag and PSN ID are all variants of 'SugarFree' (btw, hit me up if you are looking to game Su6arFr33 on XBL and PSN). So 'tobesugarfree' was born, and let's be honest: who would want to type out 'aconsequenceofhypoglycemia.com'? Exactly.

So 'A Consequence of Hypoglycemia' was born. Admittedly I didn't tell anyone about it for the first 2 weeks. Not my family, not my friends, not even twitter. I wanted to make sure that I could commit to posting frequently and honestly. I did not want to just be another flash in the pan blog for a month or so and then abandon it for the next shinny object that came my way. Apparently commitment (to this blog) is not a problem with me, posting every weekday since the start of 2009 has been a life changing experience for me. Blogging has connected me with some truly amazing and inspiring people and I can happily say my life is better because of it.

Thankfully, this is only the beginning.

Christopher Snider, A Consequence of Hypoglycemia

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If you would like to be a featured blogger please send an email to diabetesoc@gmail.com and put FEATURED BLOGGER in the subject.

Featured Blogger of the Week - June 21 -27, Post #2

Featured Blogger of the Week: June 21 - 27

Christopher Snider, A Consequence of Hypoglycemia

Post #2

We all have those stories that would qualify for America's Funniest Home Videos: D-Edition. The ones that only we could laugh at. The ones that, despite the scare at the moment, can be laughed at with enough time, experience and perspective. I have my submission when Bob Saget (or whoever is hosting) comes calling.

While managing my Diabetic supplies in Blacksburg, mail order was the only way to go. Early on in adjusting to the proper procedure, one of the key concepts was understanding lead time in ordering refills. (to self) "ok, I have ___ units of Humalog left in my last pen, that will last me approximately until ___, So I'll need to order a refill no later than ___." Of course, this is college, procrastination was my second major. But 99% of the time I was on point with my refills.

As mentioned, I base my reorder of my insulin pens based on the amount of insulin left. Since I use a pretty consistent amount each day, I can predict when I'm going to run out with some significant accuracy. Before lunch one day, I ran the dial on my last pen to the last possible number to see what was remaining. I then proceeded to give myself my injection before lunch. Of course, it would have been helpful to dial the proper amount of insulin before the injection.

Normally I use 4 units of Humalog for lunch, that lucky day it was 31.

Oops.

Once I had realized what I had done, panic came over me. I called my dad to figure out what I should do 1) about the insulin OD and b) about the insulin pen refill. A few minutes later my dad called back saying that he asked my endocrinologist to fill a prescription at the local Walgreens and he said that I had to eat to balance the insulin. Um, so all I have to do is eat? Piece of cake...yea, I said it.

We drove to Subway, I had regular soda for the first time in years, ate a footlong sub, and had 3 chocolate chip cookies. I remember a feeling very full along with an impending upset stomach, but I believe I made it through the day. I think I had a refill on the regular Pepsi, and took another cookie home to be safe. But I'm here today talking about it, so I survived.

Looking at the big picture, I suppose it wasn't unreasonable to have something like that happen. My moment of focus might have been interrupted by Jake or Nate offering a funny quip or remark. "hahaha, that's funny ((injection)) whoops." Like I said, looking back, it's a a funny story to tell. Of course overdosing on insulin is not a laughing matter, but if i lived to tell the story then it is one worth telling right?

Do you have a submission for America's Funniest Home Videos: D-Edition?

Christopher Snider, A Consequence of Hypoglycemia

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If you would like to be a featured blogger please send an email to diabetesoc@gmail.com and put FEATURED BLOGGER in the subject.