The key, here, is to be smart about it. After enjoying small indulgences, I know I’ll need to inject insulin, so I do (this is called bolusing). And then I go about my day. But I’m no good to anyone or my to-do list if I don’t think about what I want to do first. Yes, planning can be annoying and a little time-consuming, but it makes everything else a little bit easier.

2. Wake Up Early

The early bird does, in fact, get the worm. But before I get into that, another important tip I can offer for people living with diabetes —whether it’s the first thing in the morning or right before bed: always stay calm.

Don’t let it overwhelm you. Listen to what your doctor has to say, realize the changes you’ll have to make in your life. Then, continue on. Like anything, managing life as a type one means I need to plan. Luckily for me, I love lists. Besides being a diabetic, I’m also a type A, OCD-er who writes lists in her sleep.

I know some may not be as enthused as myself but it’s one of those necessary evils (like car insurance). It’s not a hindrance —just a slight slowdown. So, I’ll sit in front of my computer with a cup of coffee and plan my day accordingly.

This is usually the time, I take about 15 minutes and meditate.

I’m a “get it all done now” person so this really helps me slow down.

After my list is done, I start thinking about what I’ll need for the upcoming day. When I know I’ll be out of the house for a while, I make sure to stock up on my diabetic equipment. So don’t forget yours.

3. Always Bring Your Supplies

Do I have my insulin and insulin needles? Do I have my blood sugar meter, test strips and lancet device (the finger pricker)? Do I have a candy bar, juice, or at least some type glucose in case I go low?

Depending on your itinerary, it’s best to overpack. I suggest bringing or purchasing an oversized bag. I did and it’s helped me fit everything —without overstuffing because I have a habit of breaking purses this way (like a lot).

Except, even if you plan properly, things happen. That’s life. We can’t always predict how our bodies will handle insulin that day. Some occasions, I need a lot to come down from a high while other days, I’m more sensitive to it. It all depends. And honestly, there’s no scientific reason for any of this  —at least, they don’t know why yet.

I remember this one time though, a low came on rather quickly. I was getting gas in between errands when I felt like I was going to pass out.

Like I said, it happens. If this befalls onto you, sit down wherever you are and correct. My go-to is either orange juice, Capri Sun, a candy bar or these glucose liquid shots.

You want about 15 grams of fast-acting carbs. Foods such as bread and things like that digest differently (a lot slower). So when you’re extremely low, you need something that will increase your sugar fast.

Hence why I never leave the house without some type of glucose. I mean sometimes it’s literally a packet of sugar. Because in those moments, you need to use whatever resources you have to solve the obstacle at hand.

4. Be a Problem Solver

Everyone encounters problems with their diabetes control. Even people without it do. If/when you have a problem, you need to know how to troubleshoot your self-care.

My sister says: no one is going to fight for you but you —and it’s so true.

Be your own advocate in these and all situations by analyzing and evaluating your current circumstances as well as thinking about what was different from the usual that could have affected your blood sugar differently. It also means coming up with solutions to try, along with looking at what works and what doesn’t. Don’t get bitter, get better.

Another time, I was at Target alone. My sugar dropped to 47, which is low AF. So I found a seat at the Starbucks inside, chugged a glucose shot, and ordered a hot chocolate.

It’s that simple (not easy, but simple). Plus, you can take steps now to lower your risks of developing health problems in the future. Recommendations to reduce those risks include: not smoking (I quit about three years ago and I solely vape now #vapelife lol), seeing your doctor regularly (to check your A1C), visiting an eye specialist at least once a year, brushing and flossing daily, seeing your dentist, taking care of your feet, as well as listening to your body and exercising daily.

But like I said in the beginning, don’t forget to have some fun.

5. Reward Yourself

Living with diabetes and its daily demands for self-care can be stressful and may negatively impact your self-management. Not only can stress increase your blood sugar levels, but it can contribute to you making poor choices. The good news is there are many healthy ways to cope with stress.

One of those ways is rewarding yourself after a long day. The best part is, we have insulin for a reason. So don’t forget to splurge every now and again.

If you had a bad day, have a cookie or in my case, eat an entire whole-wheat margarita flatbread pizza —just make sure to bolus first. It helps make eating healthy the rest of the time worth it. I mean, everyone has a cheat day, right? It’s the same thing.

Simply do the best and forget the rest. It’s important to feel good about your successes. Give yourself credit when you are successful but don’t be overly critical if you fall short of a goal.

Choose to have a positive attitude, and cultivate it every day, but also accept when you feel down. To have occasional negative thoughts is normal. Research has actually shown that acknowledging those thoughts may help you keep your blood sugar levels stable.

Acknowledge, but don’t dwell. Once you work diabetes management into your routine, there’s no excuse for not doing everything else you want to do. Enjoy your life. No one is going to do that for you but you. Here’s to finding your new normal.

xoxo,

macey bee

sources:

https://diatribe.org/10-tips-teenagers-live-well-type-1-diabetes

https://www.runnersworld.com/fuel-school/how-to-fuel-for-a-long-run-with-type-1-diabetes

https://www.diabetesselfmanagement.com/blog/what-is-a-normal-blood-sugar-level/