Sometimes, even the most seasoned T1D traveler just doesn’t have the energy to plan it all out. This weekend in Victoria, I ditched my usual diabetes travel prep – and proved that letting go (and moving a little more) can still work out just fine.
Activity for a T1D travel pivot Read More »
Once upon a time I was pregnant with T1D, and in that pregnancy I struggled greatly with preserving my mental health. The reason: the constant, incessant, judgemental focus on my weight. My son turned 13 last month – how is that even possible??? Some days, I feel like it was just yesterday that I was pregnant. But, friends, I am so happy it was not just yesterday. Overall, my pregnancy was not a difficult pregnancy. But, because I have type-1 diabetes, I had to attend many, many healthcare provider appointments that often made the experience feel extremely difficult. Some of these appointments included: Maternity clinic High risk obstetrician Diabetes and pregnancy clinic, which featured appointments with an endocrinologist, nurse, and dietitian Non-stress tests Multiple ultrasounds Etc., etc., etc Of all, it was the diabetes and pregnancy clinic that had me constantly fretting about weight gain in pregnancy. Pregnant with T1D:
Pregnant with T1D – the weight anguish Read More »
T1D and tasting menus are not an easy mix! My husband and I celebrated our 16th wedding anniversary last weekend, and it was a full-on trial and error experiment with regards to my T1D. We went for dinner at The Mackenzie Room with our dear friends who were married the same day, same year – how cool is that?! Our friendship started just shy of 3 years after our weddings, and we’ve mostly been celebrating together ever since. For dinner, we opted for the chef’s tasting menu: 12 dishes served over 5 courses. T1D peeps, you know the struggle, don’t cha? Here’s what I love about tasting menus They are social. We were sharing the same dishes, chatting about the foods, and everything else, and comparing favourites from course to course. They are experiential. If we were to limit ourselves to just one or two dishes, we would not have
T1D and tasting menus: oh the challenge Read More »
Fact: T1D community is such an important thing for our overall T1D health. Hi friends! This post is long overdue. Way back in July, I presented at Connected in Motion’s Western Slipstream – an adult camp for us T1Ds that is all about community. The topic I explored with my fellow T1Ds was discomforts of eating in uncertain environments. This was my fourth year presenting at Slipstream. The first was virtual during Covid times; all others have been in person. Every year I go, I leave with my heart feeling so full. I am inspired, energized, reassured, and invigorated. I always leave with a mindset motivated to create more positive change for our community. And I always leave with a notebook full of new workshop topic ideas to further explore. You – my T1D peeps – do this 🙂 Slipstream: all about T1D community I love camp; seriously, I love
T1D community breaks down the discomforts of eating Read More »
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
Counselling in T1D care – why is this not more valued? Read More »
