T1D advocacy

Woman with T1D stands on pier in Penticton, reflecting on her diaversary

Diaversary: 35 years with T1D

Diabetes, Diabetes Dietitian

Thirty five years with T1D. It’s my diaversary! To celebrate, or not to celebrate. That, my friends, is the question of the week. I was forever branded with this disease on Aug. 23, 1987. My sister had turned 16 the same day I was rushed to the hospital. This disease couldn’t even wait one more day; it just had to dance all over my sister’s birthday. Sorry about that Jules. But honestly, as many of us with this disease will surely confirm, that’s the way of T1D. T1D: the all consuming disease Type-1 diabetes is everywhere. It is all the time. It is an insufferable attention seeker. T1D is the first thought I have when I wake up in the morning and instantly grab for my phone to check my CGM. It’s also one of my last evening actions, and middle of the night actions too when I get up …

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Stress causes hyperglycemia as shown on Freestyle Libre reader

Stress on blood sugars: side effects and strategies

Diabetes, Diabetes Dietitian, Exercise and diabetes, Registered Dietitian

Stress on blood sugars, it’s a disaster zone for T1D management. Believe me, I know this first hand! My stress levels started to skyrocket about two months ago. I had a lot of professional responsibilities weighing on me, as well as personal impacts that had my heart racing a little quicker, my mind fluttering like a butterfly, and my skin itching to get away from me. Most recently, we’ve added a most annoying eye twitch to the mix. And my blood sugars have skyrocketed too – elevating anywhere from 3-5 or more mmol/L higher than usual, resulting in Increased mealtime insulin dosing Increased basal rates Increased correction doses That’s because stress on blood sugars wreaks havoc. I remember when I was still in school, one particular exam where my blood sugars jumped about 6 mmol/L from usual right before the exam. They hovered in that above target range for the …

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Female cyclist drinks from her water bottle during T1D and sport

The science behind T1D in sport

Diabetes, Diabetes Dietitian, Exercise and diabetes, Registered Dietitian

Registered dietitian with T1D Katie Bartel dives into the science behind why sport with type-1 diabetes can be so challenging, and provides strategies for overcoming some of those challenges.

T1D RD Katie Bartel stands on the docks of T1D camp at Evans Lake in Squamish, BC

T1D RD goes back to Diabetes Camp

Diabetes, Diabetes Dietitian, Exercise and diabetes, Personal, Registered Dietitian

I love camp – specifically diabetes camp. Two weekends ago, this T1D dietitian had the opportunity of a lifetime to participate in Connected in Motion’s Western Slipstream. Essentially, a diabetes camp for adults with type-1 diabetes. Friends, I am not new to diabetes camp. I went as a kid from the time I was 10 years old to 16 years old. And I loved it so much, that I became a camp counsellor for the same camp over spring break at 17 years old. And later, in my early 20s, I also became a camp counsellor for a non-diabetes camp in Monmouth, Maine three years running. But, it’s been a few years, and I’d forgotten the joys of camp. Connected in Motion connects A few months ago I was invited by Connected in Motion to be a speaker at their first live slipstream since Covid. Connected in Motion is a T1D …

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