Diabetes Dietitian

The importance of relationship building in T1D care

Diabetes, Diabetes Dietitian, Registered Dietitian

Relationship building in T1D care is so important. Relationships build trust. They create a foundation of respect. And they help healthcare treat people like people, not like their conditions.  This post is all about an endocrinologist who practiced the fundamentals of relationship building long before it was ever considered a thing. The man. The myth. The legend. The other night I was at a T1D research event in Vancouver, learning all about current T1D research happening right here in my neck of the woods. So much research filled my brain. Super cool stuff that my brain is still trying to process. As I was reading through one of the poster boards, I heard a voice. A very, very distinctive voice. A voice I hadn’t heard in close to 30 years. Meet Dr. Dan.  Dan Metzger is an endocrinologist at BC Children’s Hospital.  I was one of his first patients. And […]

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Poor wound healing is not a guarantee with T1D

Diabetes, Diabetes Dietitian, Registered Dietitian

Wound healing in T1D is a somewhat controversial topic. Many believe that people with T1D are automatic poor wound healers. But, that’s not actually the case. Yes, diabetes does have an increased risk for wound healing implications, but that risk is not a guarantee. This post is all about the dynamics and assumptions of wound healing in T1D, what implicates wound healing, what promotes it, and those times beyond T1D that we need to listen to our own gut instincts. The long road of injury My right foot has plagued me for a full year now. It feels like plantar fasciitis, but on the top of the foot, not the bottom. As soon as I felt the pain, I started going to physio, a podiatrist, and my family doctor.  I had shock wave therapy, heat and ice therapy, cupping on my calves, and massage therapy. I refused IMS because I’ve

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T1D stories: the needle judgement

Diabetes, Diabetes Dietitian, Registered Dietitian

Life with type-1 diabetes is like a set of waves. Managing it comes with many ups and downs, highs and lows, all the emotions, times of somewhat easy going, and times of rough going. Today, I’d like to start a series of T1D stories. These posts will share some of my T1D stories. Things that stood out over the last 38 years with this condition. Good, bad, hilarious. My hope is that by sharing these T1D stories, it will help Enlighten those without type-1 about life with type-1 Help those with type-1 know that they’re not alone, and Create a safe space for T1D conversation. T1D Stories Part 1: The Needles I dated a guy once, probably for faaaar too long. He lived with his best friend, not in the best neighbourhood, and their friends were on the shady side too.  This guy’s best friend was angry, probably 90% of

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Coverage for continuous glucose monitors: we can do better

Diabetes, Diabetes Dietitian, Registered Dietitian

Continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) have limited government coverage for people with diabetes across the spectrum – that needs to change! CGMs have been a game changer for managing type-1 diabetes. But did you know that they could also be a game changer for managing type-2 diabetes as well. It makes sense, doesn’t it.  The benefits of CGM for diabetes care in T1D As people with type-1, let’s consider how continuous glucose monitors have changed our management practices:  We now have continuous, 24-hour data of what our blood sugars are doing. We know if they’re going low overnight, and we know if they’re trending up or down, and generally if they’re going up or down fast. Which means: We. Can. Take. Action. We can reduce insulin ahead of time based on blood sugar patterns. We can eat smaller amounts of simple sugars when blood sugars are decreasing to prevent or reduce

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Automated insulin delivery: to tube or not

Diabetes, Diabetes Dietitian, Registered Dietitian

Who here is already on an automated insulin delivery (AID) system?  I’m not, but I am actively curious 😀  Exploring AID I’ve spent the last six months researching Tandem T-Slim Connect IQ and Omnipod 5. In Canada, we currently only have Tandem and Medtronic for automated insulin delivery systems, but we’ve been heavily teased that Omnipod 5 will soon be coming. UPDATE: Omnipod 5 released in Canada today!! Friends, I am struggling. Medtronic isn’t an option for me for various reasons, so I won’t even talk about that here – sorry Medt friends. Currently I’m on the old-school Omnipod Eros system. I like the tube-free style it promotes, which is making it very challenging for me to even consider Tandem.  AID: to tube or not – the challenges Once upon a time, some of you may recall, I was on Animas (tubes and all) and, for the most part, I

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