Diabetes Dietitian

Counselling in T1D care – why is this not more valued?

Diabetes Dietitian, Registered Dietitian

Did you know that diabetes is associated with increased mental health disorders? And yet, in Canada, many of our diabetes and endocrinology clinics do not have counselling services attached. Why is counselling in T1D care NOT more valued? This post explores: The very real mental health condition of diabetes distress and burnout, and the struggles that people with T1D navigate with diabetes distress And why I, as a healthcare professional and person with T1D, want to see counselling added to our diabetes clinics Diabetes mental health – the stats The American Diabetes Association defines diabetes distress as emotional distress that results from living with diabetes, and the burden of relentless daily self management. It includes feelings of stress, guilt, denial – all related to diabetes.  We have clear research that shows: 30% of young adults with type-1 diabetes have diabetes distress. (Friends, that does not go away with age) One […]

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T1D workshops: be the best T1D you can be

Diabetes Dietitian, Exercise and diabetes, Pregnancy in Diabetes, Registered Dietitian

Be the best T1D you can be! Over the next several months I will be hosting a series of T1D workshops to help you do just that 🙂 Hi friends! This is a short post just to inform you all of a unique opportunity for my T1D peeps. Why T1D Workshops As mentioned above, I have developed multiple workshops to explore all things T1D. When I went back to school, and switched careers from being a journalist to a registered dietitian, the impetus for it all was to create an abundance of resources for the T1D population. As a person with type-1 diabetes, I struggled to find adequate information to help me manage my own T1D.  There were tons of resources for people with type-2, and quite a bit for the pediatric T1D population, which is great, they deserve good information too, but there wasn’t a lot out there for

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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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