Q & A - Part Two

Q&A part 2


Question 4: Do you hope to find a cure?


Of course! If a cure was offered today it would be almost a miracle considering the years and years of research to find a cure. I have hope in foundations like JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation), ADA (AMerican Diabetes Association), and Lilly Diabetes. All of these foundations have dedicated so much time and money towards finding a cure. With technology use increasing there have been many people come up with a temporary cure, such as insulin pumps and even in some cases bionic pancreases. Each year scientists have gotten closer and closer to finding a cure with new technology.


Question 5: How do you manage school, sports, and dealing with Diabetes?


Well, it's not easy! High school has definitely taught me the hard way how to manage those things and more. Picture your life now, school for 8 hours, after school sports or another extracurricular activity practice for a few hours, or if you're really ambitious, you participate in more than one activity. Following those practices you may or may not have a job, and after your job a ton of homework to do at home... if you do have all of those things to do then it is a loaded day! Or a loaded schedule, all the time. At times you may feel as if you don't have time to sleep, eat, or even breathe!
Well for diabetics it doesn't work like that, sleeping and eating (especially) are a MUST. Living with diabetes requires me to eat almost every meal. Sometimes with snacks in between.
High school has shown me that I have to make major adjustments, learn how to check my blood sugar more often, bolus (give insulin) more often. Eat and drink healthier too. Every meal requires a blood sugar check, a bolus, and possibly a “check up” blood sugar test post meal. Not eating can cause blood sugar levels to drop too low and then I wouldn't be able to do any of the activities I skipped eating, to do. Changing my pump sites and refilling insulin every 3 days also has to be added to my crazy schedule.
Diabetes can't be put on the back burner. With a (PMA) positive mental attitude, and support, diabetes won't be put on the back burner. It has become a natural flow of everyday life.
Really the thing that has helped me most is having my diabetic friends from camp to text when I'm having bad day with blood sugars and just rant about how much diabetes sucks, or having that friend to message and say “hey my blood sugars have been great today! How about you?”
Managing diabetes on top of living is definitely the most difficult part of diabetes. I like to say it as I'm being my own pancreas. And if you don't know, the pancreas does A LOT.
Don't get me wrong, diabetes sucks, but I have learned more while managing my diabetes than I have from any other life experience.


Question 6: Could you go through a day in the life of Allison? From the time you wake up until you sleep, what do you have to deal with on a daily basis?


I actually did this in a previous blog post!
But to summarize…
When I wake up I check my blood sugar, I correct the number with insulin if it is high, or correct with food if it is low.
Eat breakfast. Bolus.
Go to school.
Check half way through the morning. Do the same corrections as applied earlier.
Check for lunch, eat, bolus.
Check for after noon time, follow same correction procedures.
Go home.
Check for dinner, eat, bolus.
Check before bedtime, follow correction procedures.
And every 3 days a pump site change (takes 15 minutes).
Add checks for every time I feel high or low.
Add checks and boluses for random snacks.


Sounds easy right? Not really. Haha. Just imagine that on top of your regular life. And not every blood sugar will be perfect either. Which adds different symptoms, moods, and feelings.
To fully answer the question, feel free to read my other blog post!!

Q & A - Part One

Questions and Answers:

This blog is a more interactive blog post including questions from classmates that I will answer.

Question 1: How has diabetes affected your life?

Well, that is kind’ve what this whole blog is about. Explaining what diabetes really is and the opportunities I have had and how it has changed my overall perspective. To answer the question though, diabetes has affected every single part of my life. Growing up in elementary school was definitely one of the most difficult times, trying to fit in with younger kids who didn’t understand what was really wrong with me. I had to overcome many challenges and learn how to use a positive attitude to make it through the day. Meal time is different of course, I can not just sit down and eat, I have to check my blood sugar, count carbs, calculate insulin doses, and bolus insulin. Every. Single. Time. I. Eat. Yes I know - that must be tiring! It can be but I have had diabetes for 15 years now and I am really used to the whole routine. Diabetes affects my activities too, I have to make sure my glucose levels are in good range before participating in activities. Diabetes affects everything. I could write an entire book about this.

Question 2: When did you first discover you had diabetes?

In July of 2001, I was very sick with the flu. I could not get better no matter what my parents or doctors did. I slowly started losing flu symptoms and having more symptoms like frequent thirst, urination, hungry, irritable, etc. My aunt is a nurse and she mentioned to my mom that she thought I had diabetes. So on October 23rd, 2001, after about 2 months of battling symptoms and many trips to the doctor, I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. I was in the hospital for about two weeks while doctors got my glucose levels under control and my parents started to learn how to take care of me. October 23rd is what I like to call my “Diaversary.” A few days ago I had my 15th Diaversary - bittersweet.

Question 3: Is there any foods you're not allowed to eat entirely?

Well, for those of you who know me personally would know that I can not eat gluten. Diabetes is not the reason I am not allowed to eat gluten, I live with another chronic illness - Celiac Disease. Celiac Disease is a disease in which the small intestine is hypersensitive to gluten, leading to difficulty in digesting food. So therefore, I eat a gluten free diet in order to maintain a good internal balance of digestion.

To answer the question though, Diabetes does not really restrict a person from eating any certain food ENTIRELY. However, because sugar and starch filled food raises blood sugar levels it would not be smart to eat something like a Reese cup with a blood sugar of 200 or above. On the other hand, sugar and starch filled foods can be helpful when glucose levels are low and the body needs sugar and energy. Diabetes requires a balanced diet with strict management, but nothing is completely off limits.