Diabetes Perfection: lessons learned from a past directive

Here’s a little story about a girl named Katie proving to the world, early on, that diabetes perfection does not exist.

It cannot exist. It’s not possible. It wasn’t possible in the ‘80s, and it sure as heck isn’t possible today.

This post, my friends, comes to you from the Katie TID memory vaults!

Girl sitting on hospital bed with apple in hand, unaware of the implications of diabetes perfection directives
I didn’t quite realize the shackles that diabetes would have on me when this picture was taken, just days after my diagnosis day.
Restriction is NOT the Answer

I got type-1 diabetes in 1987, at nine years old. (Please don’t do the age math 😉 )

Back then, T1D recommendations were super rigid. The focus was very much diabetes perfection.

I quickly learned about all the things I could no longer do, and all the things I now had to do.

Nutritionally speaking:

  • I could no longer eat my beloved five cent candies

  • I could trick or treat, but I could not indulge in any of the treats

  • I had to eat regular meals and snacks, with specific components every time

  • There had to be milk at every meal.

  • My breakfast cereal (no sugar in those first ingredients) had to be measured precisely, not one crumb over the measurement

  • And if I had the slightest indulgence, I had to walk up and down the stairs for a good 15 minutes

My parents did all they could to keep me happy and healthy, but it was tough on them too. They both worked, and giving me the same foods for multiple, consecutive meals seemed to be the easiest solution for all…

Except for me.

I quickly grew tired of it all.

I hated milk – especially warm milk midday at school when my friends were slurping back their juice boxes.

Sandwiches day in and day out were sooooo tiresome.

The biggest treat I got was a small container of sugar-free yogurt. But again, warm yogurt, similar to warm milk, was all sorts of blech.

So, Katie took matters into her own hands.

The T1D Rebellion

I first stopped eating my lunches; I let them build up in my bag, one after the other. However, that strategy did not leave much room for homework, and when one of the milk containers exploded in my backpack, just as I was boarding the school bus, that was all sorts of embarrassing.

Next, I started hiding my lunches under my bed. I thought for sure no one would find out given the disaster that my room was. But then my mom, so fatigued by the mess, and curious about the smell, started cleaning. 

Oh no!

The mold, so much mold. That was not a fun explanation!!

Friends, I was not yet thwarted. I was a wiley tweenager determined not to let T1D get in my way.

The coup de grace:

We lived on a farm with the property next to us undeveloped and overgrown with trees. It was the PERFECT location for my bagged lunches to be thrown. Plus, it helped my throwing arm for baseball 🙂

Again, I was sure no one would be the wiser.

I happily went along with my days, maybe a little on the hungry side, a few extra lows for sure, but with a sense of freedom, I tell you.

But then, sigh, someone decided to develop the bagged lunch property.

And that is how my parents learned that I was essentially starving myself.

Why?

BECAUSE DIABETES PERFECTION IS NOT POSSIBLE!!! 

And in those days, that is what we were all striving for. Except, what we got instead, was a pre-teen well on her way to a long history of disordered eating. 

T1D Management: change is a good thing

Thankfully, I cannot say this enough, thankfully healthcare is recognizing that diabetes perfection is not a thing. A lot of work has gone into this realization. And a lot more work needs to go into it.

We need to stop focusing so much on the so-called things we can and can’t do with T1D, and start focusing more on balancing our lifestyles. Be flexible. Allow grace. Know that one donut one day, or one or two workout free days, are not going to ruin your overall diabetes management.

As long as balance is there most of the time, like 70% of the time, you’re doing well. Even if you’re not at 70%, but you’re working towards balance, you’re doing great.

Do not forget that.

Change takes time. Developing new habits does not happen over night. We need to be kind to ourselves, because kindness goes a long way in overall diabetes management!!

Trust me, I know!

Now, if you’ll please excuse me, I have a tasty lunch to go and eat with my family – no milk, no yogurt, but a nice strip of milk chocolate for dessert.

Because, we can totally have chocolate and anything else we want – with balance!

Happy eating friends 😀

This pic was from several years ago, on a trip to New York with my husband, where thankfully I allowed some T1D flexibility!

Leave a Reply