Diabetes Doesn't Define You

For some reason, lately I've been seeing a lot of articles about coffee possibly assisting in the prevention of type 2 diabetes? These articles can be very confusing at times. Many of these articles seems to only go one way or another. Many studies seem to point coffee in a favorable position, while others do not. However, as I dig further, the problem doesn't appear to be in the coffee bean, but the caffeine within the coffee itself. Yet, I think that it's accurate to say that, this is one of those things when "it depends on individual experience".

I'd just like to take a quick minute to talk about my personal experience with coffee, without all the tons of research jargon. Before you continue to read, remember to consider that everyone's body will be different, and the effects may not be the same.

I've done a little test a while back. I fasted one morning, consuming one cup of coffee and checked my blood sugar every hour for four hours. My blood sugars did not spike, in fact it almost was not effected at all. However, The next time I drank coffee in the morning, it would be with my usual breakfast, not only did I notice a significant spike in my blood sugars, I had to use more insulin to cover those sugars. My sugars also stayed higher longer than usual. I found out later that this was due to the caffeine in the coffee.

From what I understand, caffeine does mainly two things to a diabetic. One, it hinders your insulin's ability to do it's job. Two, it also triggers a release of other hormones that causes the liver to release more glucose than usual. Interesting in my case it did not do that, however, I definitely felt the difference when I drank it along with food.

I also have IBS (controlled). If I consume large amount of coffee (more than about 1 cup (8 ounces)) I've noticed that caffeine sometimes aggravates and causes terrible muscle spasms, and cramps in my stomach due to the IBS. By nature I don't normally drink coffee, but when I do, it's usually when I know I'll be home for the day. However, some claim that coffee can assist in healthy bowl movements. Personally, I find this debatable; it's like saying a lactose intolerant person who drinks a ton of whole milk get a healthy bowl movement, just because he or she got one. If You have IBS talk to your doctor, or nutritionist about caffeine.

What many people may not be aware of, is that caffeine is also an accelerant~stimulant, and may not be good for people with existing heart disease or high blood pressure. Too much caffeine can cause dangerous palpitations for people with existing heart conditions. It can have the same dangerous effects as an herb called Ma-huang if taken in large quantities.

Now it appears that almost every soft drink (and sometimes nutritional supplements) on the market contain caffeine in them. America literally runs on caffeine. How ironic that although coffee in large consumptions can be bad for us, it is another families livelihood.

Yogi

I was at a diabetes monthly meeting not too long ago. I had a lot of fun there. In this particular support group, there's always someone that has spare diabetes supplies to share. How wonderful to witness this, especially during the xmas holidays. However, I became very sad for a moment, because although it was such a beautiful thing that members are willing to share their blessings unconditionally; I also thought about the fact billions of people still have absolutely no idea what a diabetic has to go through, and just how vital diabetic supplies are to every diabetic (not just type 1).

I also thought about the fact that so many type 2 people, don't have the right to some of the same technologies as type 1 do because of stigma. Regardless of what type of diabetes you have, we are all fighting the same battle of trying to stay alive by any means necessary, period....

I've encountered so many people that take their diabetes for granted. Some of us litterally hoard supplies unnecessarily. I just wanted to say that, lets not forget our diabetic brothers and sisters lives that depend on the supplies we don't use. Think about how diabetic lives are devasted every day because of insurance issues. If you are blessed with extra supplies, share them. Nothing feels more beautiful than the opportunity to help someone in need.

-Yogi

1. My non-diabetic friend accepts all of me, including my diabetes.

2. My non-diabetic friends never make blanket assumptions about my diabetes or me.

3. My non-diabetic friends truly listens to me when they ASK about my diabetes.

4. My non-diabetic friends are great to share food with, when controlling sugars!

5. My non-diabetic friends are informed about my diabetes, and know when I need help.

6. My non-diabetic friends know that diabetes is only part of who I am.

7. My non-diabetic friends are mindful of insensitive comments, especially in public.

8. My non-diabetic friends NEVER try and force THEIR way of healthy living.

9. My non-diabetic friends understands that EACH AND EVERY DIABETIC IS DIFFERENT!

10. My non-diabetic friends understand that a syringe does not mean I am a drug addict.

11. My non-diabetic friends laugh with me and not @ me.

12. My non-diabetic friends are interested in learning more about diabetes together.

13. My non-diabetic friends participate in the very things they recommend.

14. My non-diabetic friends................. (you fill in the rest)

-Yogi

I hate to admit it but I LOVE LOLCats!  The funny pictures and captions of cats makes me smile no matter how stressed out my day is!  I love the terrible grammar and silly sentiments!  Who would have guessed that I would have my own crazy LOLCats story?

Some of you may remember my cat from one of my early blog posts before I joined Bill on 1happydiabetic.com.  My cat can be pretty tolerant of me as you can tell!

On Friday, October 21, I received some scary news.  My cat, China, has Type II diabetes.  She is 13 years old and had started peeing on the carpet in our living room, drinking lots of water and scarfing all of the dog’s hard food. Because she didn’t lose weight, I didn’t put it together that she was showing me diabetic symptoms.  Part of me feels guilty for not seeing that she was feeling sick and part of me realizes that sometimes you just don’t see stuff like this coming.

As my husband picked China up from the veterinarian and he was given the news of the diagnosis.  Her blood sugar was 380!  He was sent home with a prescription for Humulin N insulin and syringes.  He was told she needs to be tested 1-2 times a day from her EAR!  We were going to have to stick a lancet in her ear to test her!  We were both reeling!

I have to be honest, it has been really hard for me to be positive about my cat having diabetes.  I am usually the most positive person you will ever find!  I went to Twitter to talk to the DOC Friday night about my feelings and I got so much support! 

So the first 2 days into the I haz diabeetus adventure we have failed miserably at testing China’s blood sugar.  Getting a drop of blood from the ears of a cat is really, really hard!  We have successfully given the cat some shots of Humulin N.  The cat is on an expensive diabetes meal planfrom the vet that is high protein, low carb. See a pic below of all of the cat’s diabeetus supplies and food:

I have to be real, I am struggling with this diagnosis.  My vet said as we get the insulin regiment tuned in for China she may have hypoglycemic episodes.  How in the world will my cat be able to tell me she feels funny and she might be having a low blood sugar?  Sure, I have a big bottle of Karo syrup to use if she goes low but how will I know?  I can’t test her as often as I test myself and the vet says I don’t need to.   So lots of guessing on where the cat’s blood sugar is which makes me really uncomfortable. The truth is, I am scared.  Rationally I know I am one of the best people on the planet to deal with what a cat with diabetes needs.  Emotionally I am not there yet.

So how am I keeping a good attitude through this stress?  Well, I am celebrating the little victories.  My cat doesn’t flinch when I give her a shot. Our first successful blood glucose test tonight yielded a wonderful 126 after 3 insulin shots since the diagnosis.  She loves her new special diabetes diet.  The cat seems happier and has not peed on my carpet again since the insulin started.    This is how I am staying positive and keeping an upbeat attitude, being realistic in my expectations of what I can do and what I can control.

And now, my new LOLCats picture:

The Best Way To Help a Diabetic? For every diabetic, there's a different circumstance. Each diabetic will require different needs. A diabetic's needs can depend on a variety of things, i.e., medications, personality, and sometimes even our emotional state. No one diabetic is the same, regardless of the type of diabetes. For a few years now, I've been involved with the diabetic community (as well as being diabetic myself), and I think it's safe to say that for most of us, the best way to help a diabetic is to just simply ask, "How can I help"?

Speaking for myself, to "ASK" is a very important keyword. Some diabetics welcome unsolicited advice, and some diabetics despise it. To help a diabetic, is to understand the "invisible diabetic line" between your opinions, and a persons right to live their life. To ask, is to allow that diabetic, to have a choice as to whether or not, they'd like to receive your thoughts, instead of dealing with uninvited opinions. By asking, it also avoids risks of any developing tension, or unintentionally making the diabetic person feel less then competent.

Lastly, the best way to help a diabetic, is to become informed yourself, in order TO help. Read about diabetes as much as you can. When I say read, I don't mean an old article in "Women's Day magazine", "People magazine" or even a "new cure" in "The Enquirer". Purchase a current & relative book on diabetes. The American Diabetes Association has many great books, for both the newly diagnosed, and loved ones who are trying to learn.

Understand that not every diabetic is doomed to have life threatening complications. As long as he/she is controlling their blood sugars, they can lead a very healthy and happy life. Diabetes is an extremely complex disease. Diabetes is so much more than just eating fruits, vegetables and exercising. Diabetes is interconnected along with our emotional, psychological, as well as our physical state. So please keep these things in mind, when dealing with a diabetic loved one.

Yogi

Our friends over at TuDiabetes have put together an event for all of us for World Diabetes Day this Saturday, November 14, 2009.  Check it out and participate if you can.  It's all about raising awareness about diabetes!  Here is the info about the event:

November 14 is World Diabetes Day. On that day, at 14:00 hours (localtime), thousands of people with diabetes will test their blood sugar,do 14 minutes of exercise, test again and share their results onTuDiabetes or on Twitter.

The event is called The Big Blue Test because blue is the color associated with World Diabetes Day. It is based on a test-in activity that took place July 14, where more than a thousand people with diabetes tested their blood sugar at the same time and shared their results online. This time, the activity incorporates 14 minutes of physical activity to reinforce the importance of exercise.

Participating in this event to raise diabetes awareness on November 14 is easy...

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE...

You too can be 1happydiabetic, it's all about your attitude!

Suzanne

Today is officially diabetes blog day, in honor of Diabetes Awareness month.  A big thanks to Chris, over at The Big D blog for designing the awesome logo below.

I usually take forever to put together a blog.  I research, I write and then re-write, and spend a lot of time trying to put together a whole feeling or message.  This time I am going to go a little stream of consciousness, just for fun!  Here aresome of the thoughts that go through my head in any given week that involve diabetes:

1. Wow, look at all the black dots on my fingertips!
2. I wonder if my endo will get on my case for not testing 2 hours after meals like I use to do religiously?  With my new job it has been hard to do this….
3. How did I ever survive without a CGMS?
4. In an average year I use approximately 4500 test strips.  At about a buck a piece, I sure could go on a killer vacation each year with all that money!
5. Oooohhh, look! They have a low carb version of pita bread!
6. If there was a cure today, would I still think of myself as a diabetic?
7. Diabetes sure does make me a strong person.
8. Diabetes makes me feel weak sometimes.
9. I hate asking for help with inserting a DexCom sensor in my arm, but I love that my husband is willing to do it for me.
10. I wonder if I my dog can tell when I am low or high?
11. I sure carry around a lot of food with me….My purse is sooooo heavy!
12. Fruit juice, glucose tabs, or left over candy? Which should I have to treat this low?
13. It isn’t fair I have to deal with diabetes.I wonder if there will ever be a cure… 

You can be 1happydiabetic, it’s all about your attitude!

Suzanne

November is Diabetes Awareness Month and on the 14th of this month, we have World Diabetes Day to look forward to.  There are over 250 million people who are affected by diabetes worldwide.  Yet little is mentioned in the American media about this epidemic affecting so many of us.  As you know, diabetes is a 24/7, never ending challenge we deal with.  Let's all take a personal pledge to educate others this month about diabetes and dispel the many myths that surround this disease!  Raising awarenes can bring us closer to a cure!

According to WorldDiabetesDay.org,  "the World Diabetes Day logo is the blue circle - the global symbol for diabetes which was developed as part of the Unite for Diabetes awareness campaign. The logo was adopted in 2007 to mark the passage ofthe United Nations World Diabetes Day Resolution. The significance ofthe blue circle symbol is overwhelmingly positive. Across cultures, the circle symbolizes life and health. The colour blue reflects the sky that unites all nations and is the colour of the United Nations flag.The blue circle signifies the unity of the global diabetes community inresponse to the diabetes pandemic."

You can be 1happydiabetic, it's all about your attitude!

Suzanne