Diabetes as Kintsukuroi

My mother was fascinated with the art of porcelain and two of my closest friends are Master Potters. So yep, Kintsukuroi speaks to me - for all sorts of reasons~
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Kintsukuroi courtesy of google~

Kintsukuroi, “to repair with gold”; the art or repairing pottery with gold or silver lacquer and understanding that the piece is more beautiful for having been broken."
Interesting phrase and theory is it not? Most in our society look at anything broken as throwaway items - but not the Japanese -  the consider Kintsukuroi pottery to be more beautiful for having been broken. 

Kintsukuroi finds and celebrates the beauty in the flaws - And I’m totally down with that. 

There were times when I considered myself broken because of certain aspects of my life. Broken because of the people I loved and who are no longer alive and the status of my permanently busted pancreas. 

Perceiving myself as "being broken" stopped me in my tracks - even though my legs worked perfectly.

But I’m not broken because of losing loved ones or my busted pancreas, I am anything but. And I choose to see myself as Kintsukuroi. 

Those I’ve lost are with me still - and I find comfort in the memories. And while I still shed tears for them - I find myself smiling when I think of them and I gain strength from their memories every day.  

Diabetes has left marks on my body and my soul. My are fingers scarred and callused from years of checking my glucose. Scar tissue is a theme throughout my body - my abdomen has deadspots from 13 years of insulin pumping, as do my arms and legs from 25 years of multiple daily injections before  pump therapy. 
Thanks to diabetes, my tendons play tricks on me, forcing me to listen to and take notice. 

Diabetes has perpetually caused me to say I’m sorry, even when I’m not.

But diabetes has given me the gift of empathy - a gift I am truly grateful because we live in a world where so many people are depleted of empathy and consider empathy as weakness and a threat, 

Diabetes has made me lean on others - and has allowed others to lean on me.

Diabetes makes me listen to my body, even when I don’t want to. 

Diabetes has helped me to develop a twisted and wonderful sense of humor.

Diabetes has forced me to be tenacious and get back up again. 

And as previously stated,  diabetes has caused me to feel broken. 
But now I see that there’s beauty in the flaws - there are works of art in the gold and silver flecks of strength and resilience that make me who I am. 

Kelly as Kintsukuroi - more beautiful, strong, and resilient for having been broken.

The DOC (Diabetes Online Community,) as Kintsukuroi -more beautiful, strong, and resilient for having been broken.

Diabetesalicious-Lite: Diabetes Dark Ages, Alecia On The APP/AP, Fearless/Fearful, Positive D Visuals, CWD-FFL15 & #SpareARose

I’ve written about the Diabetes Dark Ages a lot on Diabetesaliciousness, because (and lucky me,) I was diagnosed just as that chapter of diabetes history was coming to a close  and diabetes technologies were coming into play - and my memories are vivid.  
I wrote a piece on the D Dark Ages over at SuiteD and I'd love it if you click HERE, check it out and let me know what you think~

Speaking of Diabetes Technology/technologies, t1 and SurfaceFine blogger, Alecia Wesner is featured in today’s NY Daily News, re; her "app-tastic' experience on the AP. 
Click HERE and read about our fearless and fantastical friend's experience! 
Also: I WANT.

Fearless and fearful, similar versions of the same root word, with very different meanings. We all find ourselves walking a fine line when it comes to being fearless and fearful in all aspects of our lives, including our lives with diabetes. 
And if we're lucky, we find ourselves a place to exist and flourish in the in-between of both words and worlds. 
Not being so fearless to the point of of being flipping crazy, and not being so fearful that we allow ourselves or others to be imprisoned by our fears.
After 37 years of living with diabetes, I've seen a hell of a lot and I've learned and continue to learn everyday. 
For me, the 24X7/365 requirements of my diabetes life include; continual education, (of myself and others,) the latest in diabetes technology, copious amounts of laughter, lots tenacity, acknowledging and then doing what I fear when required, while remembering to focus on the positive & help others in the process. 
Also, I require boatloads of hope and positive diabetes visuals - we all do! 

Re: positive diabetes visuals, take a look at Moira's positive & empowering post over at Despite Diabetes.   

Speaking of positive and empowering, here's a sneak peek at the initial and not yet complete/still fantastical work in progress, Adult Program for the 2015 Children With Diabetes- Friends For Life Conference! 
Sidebar: The Kids Program isn't up and running yet, but I guarantee it's sure to please!
Continue to watch childrenwithdiabetes.com for updates and details & see you in Florida! :) 

Lastly and also in the positive/empowering vein: The Super Bowl isn’t the only thing kicking off on February 1 - SpareARose also 'kicks-off' on Super Bowl Sunday and quite frankly, my bet's on #SpareARose for the win!  
11 roses are better than a dozen and for the cost of 1 rose (5 bucks) you're literally sparing a rose and saving a child. 5 dollars provides life saving insulin for a month to a child with diabetes in third world/developing country!  It's a sure bet on game day and it'sthe best money you'll spend on Valentine's Day.  

Order your "spared rose and or roses," here.

#AADE14: This Post Is All About How Amazing CDEs Are.

My apologies for last week’s lack of posts. I worked triple time before I flew to the 2014 AADE Conference in Orlando last Wednesday and I hit the ground hard when I landed - Attending sessions,working the DHF Booth and meeting with HCPs one on one and face to face. I focused on listening, learning and passing info via tweeting and facebooking. This week, the blog posts will be plentiful.

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Today's post is short and sweet and it's not about all the amazing sessions I had the opportunity to attend - That post is on it's way. This post is all about about the amazing people attending AADE. Yep, it's all Certified Diabetes Educators, A.K.A., CDEs.

First and foremost: Certified Diabetes Educators are amazing. ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. 

These women and men work their glutei maximi off when it comes to their patients with diabetes - Attending #AADE14 was a continual reminder for me just how amazing in all dimensions CDEs are.  
Much like their patients, CDEs are stretched thin when it comes to time, finances and lack of coverage, both in the physical and "hands-on" sense, as well as the insurance coverage sense. But that doesn’t prevent them from helping their patients - And fighting for them. 

CDEs must continually learn and educate themselves on all the latest and greatest in diabetes management, studies and care so they can pass that info on to us. 

And the majority of CDEs are receptive to learning from us as well, both in sessions and via one-on-one. YEP, AMAZING. 

CDEs brains are impressive and their hearts are big. They worry about us because they take our diabetes to heart - And that in and of itself is pretty damn amazing. 

Personally, I'm blessed to have a wonderful CDE and Endo, who work with and talk with and too me, not at me. Who teach me and learn from me all at the same time - And who help me navigate through the Diabetes Burnout so I can get back on track to the road called, Better. 
I was surrounded by a sea of Healthcare Professionals at #AADE14 who wanted all their patients to find the road to Better. And I remember the Diabetes Dark Ages - When there was no such thing as a CDE. THANK GOD times have changed!

Still, I'm always blown away when I hear of PWDs who haven't with a CDE since their DX or even worse, who have never worked with a CDE - And that breaks my heart. 

If you haven’t met with CDE yet, PLEASE, consider making an appointment with one - Click HERE for more help in finding one. 

Having someone to help you navigate the diabetes waters with is so incredibly important. Everyone needs some help when it comes to finding what diabetes routes work best for us as an individual with diabetes. Having a CDE as your diabetes Coach and Co-Captain helps to take the pressure off doing it alone. Knowledge is power and the more sources of diabetes knowledge we have as patients  both online and off) helps in building and maintaining our health and our confidence in how we manage our lives with diabetes. 

And if you already meet with a CDE and haven't had been in for a diabetes tune-up in a while. email them and set up an appointment - You're worth it. And while you're at it, give them a big THANK YOU - I know they'll appreciate it! 

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I was lucky enough to receive a scholarship to attend the 2014 AADE Conference in Orlando, Florida, provided by The Diabetes Hands Foundation and Diabetes Advocates - I'm an active member and fangirl of both groups and I'm incredibly grateful for the opportunities they provide me, including the scholarship to AADE. 
The scholarship covered my flight and hotel costs, but as always, all thoughts on my blog are mine. :) 

Things I’ve been reminded of as of late - The 2014 Summer Edition

Lately I've been reminded of somethings & I thought I'd share. 

Also: I'm a weird. 

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Some things I've been reminded of as of late~

The DOC always has my back - Same goes for my Endo & CDE. 

I am one lucky duck, indeed. 

Typing while wearing wrist braces makes for some interesting key strokes.
Thank God for the Edit, “Undo Typing,” option. 

In order to makes changes, you have to be the change - Not always easy, but necessary.

Sometimes you can bolus for pizza and actually be low 2 hours later. 
Sometimes you can bolus for a salad and be high a 2 hours later. 
File both under: WEIRD & INCREDIBLY ANNOYING

I’ve recently jumped on the True Blood bandwagon, thanks to 3 months of free HBO and the magic of On-Demand.
TB is a great show, but every single time I watch an episode, I find myself thinking that PWD blood would probably be just as coveted by the Vamps as Fairy blood - Especially if said PWD was running moderate to high blood sugars after a cortisone shot. 
Now depending on the Vamp, this can actually be kind of a great thing.... Or it could TOTALLY SUCK. ;)
Come on now, I can't be the only one who wonders about this..... or can I?   
Also: File Under: Diabetes Brain

Summer fruit and veggies are incredibly delicious, but when it comes to tomatoes I need to pace myself because too much of a good thing equals acid mouth. 

Forcing yourself to test your blood sugar on the hand you normally never test with isn’t as hard or as cumbersome as you think it might be.

But enough about me - What have you been reminded of as of late?
And it doesn't have to be about diabetes, either. 

#Dblogweek Day 4:D Mantras And More: Today My Mantra Is All About Diabetes Bootstraps ~

#dblogweek day four, it's all about our D - Mantra's, sayings and or talisman we use to get us out of the D muck. 
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So what gets me through the day when diabetes is driving me nuts? 
What are my Diabetes muck busters?  
My D mantras are many and depend on the diabetes day and the diabetes issue(s) at hand.
And today I've decided to share the one that's been stuck in both my head and my heart as of late: 

You have to pull yourself up by your diabetes bootstraps and keep forging ahead.

My parents always taught us that we had no choice but to pull ourselves up by our bootstraps and get back up when life felt like knocking us down - They said that phrase all the time and they were right. 

I say it too, or different variations of it, (Come on Kel, pull yourself up by your D bootstraps, girl!) a lot - to myself and to others.
And I believe it. 
And I realize that some days it's very hard to do, diabetes or not. 
I totally get it, I've had many days when the process of getting up was harder than the act of falling down.
But then I remind myself that there's no crime in falling down - Everyone, even the most graceful and sure footed fall - And that it's OK - And sometimes - we need help getting back up - And that's more than ok.  
There's so much strength and beauty in the act of being resilient, of dusting ourselves off, and when needed, asking for backup to "pull ourselves up by our diabetes bootstraps." 

Either on our own or with a helping hand, rising up and moving forward is a beautiful thing. 

Plus, I've always had a thing for boots :)  

Hey You - The Person Living With Diabetes - You're Fantastical!

The world breaks everyone, and afterward, some are strong at the broken places. - Earnest Hemingway~

"Where there is no struggle there is not strength." Oprah

"Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, ‘I will try again tomorrow.’” - Mary Anne Radmacher

“You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing which you think you cannot do.”– Eleanor Roosevelt

 Late to post today - I needed reminding of the following today & thought maybe you might, too~

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Even on the days we don’t feel like dealing with diabetes - We do - Even if we don’t give diabetes 100% our somedays, we do what we must - Because we don’t have a choice.

Yep, we, people living with diabetes are fantastical - And don't forget it!

We deal with the finger pricks, the carb counting, door knobs and yanked pumped tubing at the most inopportune of times. Insulin pens that go wonky, insulin that goes skunky, insulin bottles that crack/smash and insurance companies who don't think daily insulin requirements change like the weather, let alone daily, monthly or cyclically.

We deal with the Diabetes Police and their snarky comments, diabetes myths that require daily busting, best of intentions that are anything but and the diabetes guilt that is never far from our hearts and heads.

We handle (welcoming with open arms with a good and healthy dash of resentment of having to be D tuned-in and tethered all the time,) the ever changing diabetes technology.

 Ironically, many of us master D technology no problem  yet we still grapple with the technicalities of our TV remotes. 

Go figure? 

Demanding and always present diabetes doesn’t care about work deadlines, vacations, sick kids or broken hearts - And each of us handles our diabetes throwing bitchfits in our own way  - And quite wonderfully might I add. 

And there are times we forget to notice how much we’ve actually done in our lives, all while we are actually living life with diabetes. 

So I’m here to remind you of how fantastical you are! Seriously though: 
BRAVO/BRAVA 
TO YOU! 
YOU’RE FLIPPING AMAZING, NOT TO MENTION FANTASTICAL! 

THANKS FOR THE DAILY DIABETES INSPIRATION & ROCK ON! 

Diabetes Memory #4,568: My First Day of High School & My Fear Of Being A Diabetes Freak

True Story: I attended school back in the day when 504 was just the area code for New Orleans~
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The first day of my freshman year of High School was a stressful one for all sorts of reasons.

Like most Freshman, I was nervous and scared of starting a new school chapter. 

I was starting  a new school that was much larger and bigger than my middle school & I was going to be low girl on the totem pole. 

It was the first time I ever had to wear a school uniform and I hated it. 

It was the first time I had to take a school bus and rumor had it that the upper class men made freshman newbies sing the school song on the bus and that alone made me scared. 

And let's face it, being 14 can suck. You're growing up and at least for me - the awkward adolescent stages lasted much longer then they should have. I was skinny with almost no curves and I wore glasses and my face hadn't quite caught up to the size of my nose. 

And then of course there was whole diabetes thing.

I was going to a new school where most of the students and teachers didn’t know about my diabetes. And yes, my parents had talked with the school nurse and and she’d met with all my teachers to make them aware of “my condition,” (and btw, I hate that term,) but high school was a new diabetes ball game entirely. 

For 6 years I’d been in a very small & progressive school system where everyone; teachers, students - even the janitors knew I had diabetes. It was an accepted fact and nobody treated me any differently. When I had to eat my snack in class, no one batted an eye. And when I had to treat a low, I could treat in class or excuse myself and go to the nurses office - no questions asked.

And for the most part, I was in comfortable in my grade and middle school’s diabetes bubble. 

The second class on my first day of High School was Freshman English, taught by Sister Katherine, a strict nun who loved the sound of her own voice.

I watched the clock as it ticked towards 10:15 a.m. ( the time I was supposed to eat my snack,) and I was starting to get really nervous. 

How was I going to pull this off? I had no desire to miss class and eat in the nurses office - And my parents would have been mortified at that thought.  I didn't want the sick kid label because I wasn't sick. 

My mom and dad always made it clear that if I had to eat, I had to eat.  And it didn't matter where I was or what I was doing. They strongly believed that snacks shouldn’t require a trip to the nurses office or the storage room, which is where my 5th grade teacher made me eat my snack, until I told my parents - But that’s for another post.

Anyway, back to Sister Katherine. I tried raising my hand to give her a heads up about having to eat, but she was in the middle of a speech on how all assignments handed in must be grammatically correct and didn’t want to be interrupted.

She looked at me and said: No questions until I’m finished!
And then she continued talking... and talking.. and talking.

And then it was 10:25 and I was super hungry, so I reached into my knapsack and pulled out a pear and started to eat it.

And Sister Katherine didn’t miss a beat. She ended her speech with something like: Regardless of the content or how good your writing sounds, your grade will go down a letter grade if you have more than 3 grammatical errors on a paper. And then without skipping a beat, she crouched down at my desk, (I'd been assigned a seat was in the front row,) looked me square in the eye and said: And why are you eating a pear in my class? 

Me: I’m allowed to.

Sister Katherine: No, I don’t think you are - We eat in the cafeteria, not in my classroom.

Me: I have diabetes -  I have to eat. The school nurse had a meeting with my teachers - Didn’t you attend? 

Sister Katherine: Ahh, yes... You’re the one.

Me: Yep, I’m the one.

Sister Katherine: Well, I would have appreciated a heads-up. You should have reminded me at the beginning of class.

Me: Sister Katherine, I did try and tell you.

Sister Katherine: Continue with your snack, but I won’t tolerate any class disruptions because of your food requirements. By all means, eat whenever you have to but don’t make a big production of it. 

And then she continued to wax poetic about dangling participles and the likes there of 

and I was completely mortified. Even though I did what I had to and didn’t back down, I was afraid of what everyone else would think. 

I didn’t know most of these kids and now I was going to be the Diabetes Freak of the freshman class.

Then I looked over to my left and saw a student give me the thumbs up sign - And I didn’t know him - And I think I smiled and winked back at him. And then I looked over to my right and the girl next to me was smiling at me - And I didn’t know her either!  

And at that moment I knew that my diabetes wouldn’t define me as the Diabetes Freak  as far as my classmates were concerned. 

It doesn't mean I wasn't a freak and or geek, because I think I was - But not because of my diabetes.
And looking back, I wish I'd been able to stick up for myself in other areas of my High School life the way I stuck up for my broken pancreas. Kids in High School can be mean, especially girls - And especially when they feel threatened. #truth
But that's for another post entirely.

Did you have any fears about being the Diabetes Freak in your school? If so, how'd you handle it? 

YES.YOU.CAN. Revisited.

So a lot of times life is crazy and hectic and scary and overwhelming - Diabetes or not!

And sometimes life has us spinning so much that we just to stop and take a break - To look back at all the good we do instead of focusing on the not so good or near do well of it all. 

We are living life and doing our best - and living and doing and being are wonderful things.

So as I was going over previous diabetes blog posts and contemplating a revisit, I thought I'd repost the following from last year. 

YES. YOU. CAN  originally posted on May 18th of 2011 - It's been damn close to a year since then and I guess I needed a little reminding~

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It's not who you are that holds you back, it's who you think you're not. ~Author Unknown

Whether you think you can or think you can't - you are right. ~Henry Ford

I quit being afraid when my first venture failed and the sky didn't fall down. ~Allen H. Neuharth
If you hear a voice within you say "you cannot paint," then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced. ~Vincent Van Gogh

I am not a has-been. I am a will be. ~Lauren Bacall

I'm Good Enough, I'm Smart Enough, and Doggone It, People Like Me! Stuart Smalley

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Sometimes, diabetes or not, life gets us down and self doubt slowing tries to slowly creep around us and cover us tightly, like some sort of stifling cocoon that we must find a way to bust out of, ASAP.

We find ourselves second guessing decisions that we know to be right, which tends to make us stop in our tracks because we fear the possibility of both success and failure.

It’s a crappy feeling that no one in Diabetes Land or on planet Earth is immune to.

So, when you start feeling that way, it’s really important to tell yourself

that you can do and be anything!

And it's important to tell yourself that.....

 YOU CAN INDEED "DO IT!"

Because it's true - even if you're not quite convinced.

And the more you actually say that you can do anything and that you are indeed fantastical, the more you'll actually believe it - And in yourself!

Diabetes Days & Diabetes Moments ~

There are days and moments after 30 plus years with diabetes, that diabetes is second nature - Like being left handed.

Days where I test automatically and without thinking and can immediately read the carb count on an unfamiliar meal. Days where I am indeed a Diabetes Savant. For a brief moment in time, life with diabetes mimics others whose pancreases are in working order view as normal.

And then there those days where I’ve rushed out the door sans my insulin pump, tune out my pump’s “low Insulin” alarm completely until my diabetes well is damn near dry, or have my infusion set in a spot that unbeknownst to me, has become useless and dead.

Days where my numbers go either north or south for unexplained reasons. And others where I do something stupid, like forget to bolus for coffee, and then wonder out loud why I’m blowing a 240 a few hours later.

Then there are those “diabetes moments” that are public and at times uncomfortable. Moments where all of a sudden I feel the low and think that others can feel it to. Like everyone in the Diabetes On-Line Community, I’ve become an expert at downing glucose tabs in record time and sucking down a juice-box in one gigantic gulp. Hey, I wonder if I should write that on my on-line dating profile??? But I digress.

Much like “Senior Moments,” these “Diabetes Moments” happen and I acknowledge and accept them, and at times laugh out loud at them - or cry in frustration. But I continue to plow ahead - because I see others doing the same.

And then I remind myself that I’m not the only one who has these diabetes days and diabetes moments - Others stand where I’m standing and that’s a great comfort. Realizing that others like me, live and embrace this diabetes view of normal, not only helps us live our lives, it also saves lives. It is a wonderful and empowering thing.

And then I remember shared diabetes moments, in the form of DMeet Ups, blog posts, twitter chats, emails, phone calls, letters and the likes there of and I'm once again remember that you can speak the language of diabetes in real life and on-line, without ever having to utter the “D Word.” But that it’s more than OK if you do. And that is also a wonderful thing~

Guest Post: 6 Months Into Life With Diabetes - It's About Nicole!

Today's Guest host is Cheryl Kinnunen. I've never met Cheryl in real life, but she's my friend just the same.

We connected through her fantastical daughter Nicole. I met Nic 4 years ago when I was a speaker at DESA (Diabetes Exercise & Sports Association) nat'l meeting in Colorado Springs.

Nicole was there with her dad Vic, who's quite the the Athlete/dad/type 1. We hithit it off right of the bat - And spent a lot of time together that weekend - And we've kept in touch ever since!

Though I'll admit, I still haven't quite forgiven Nic for continually making fun of me for being afraid to jump off the high-dive. OK, I was running REALLY high blood sugars the whole time I was there ( I had no idea back than that high altitudes requires us to almost double our pump basal rates,) and just couldn't do it!

Nic still won't let me live it down!

Anyway, when Nic was diagnosed 6 months ago, Cheryl and I became friends and I'm so glad we are - She's an amazing D mom & friend!

Last month I asked Cheryl if she'd like to guest post. She marinated on it for a bit and then agreed.

I think you'll be pleased with the results. Take it away Cheryl !

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Nic & Cheryl

First, let me say that I am beyond excited to be asked to post here on Kelly’s blog…after all, she is the Queen of Awesomeness!

When Kelly asked me about posting, I started thinking about our journey over the last 6 months since my daughter Nicole’s T1 diagnosis and how it has affected us. This is a diabetes blog after all, right?? But then Nicole stopped me in my tracks… By writing a paper for school about herself and science (diabetes, insulin, pumps—seems like a no-brainer huh?) she asked me, “Why does it always have to be about diabetes?” And you know what? She’s right!

So while this may be a little about diabetes…it’s really about my daughter.

Nicole will be 12 in a couple weeks. She is smart and beautiful—on the inside and out. She is a voracious reader…all she wanted for her birthday was a blue Animas Ping insulin pump and her own Kindle…she is getting both.

She is funny, sarcastic, and sometimes argumentative. She writes her own songs. She plays lacrosse. She is in Junior High and her room is a disaster. She always wants to wear more makeup than I will let her and she loves to use lots of emoticons when texting.

When she grows up, she wants to work for the FBI and profile serial killers with the BAU.

She is a good friend. She still teases Kelly about not jumping off the high dive four years ago.

Back then, Nicole was 7 and jumped of the high dive herself - NUMEROUS TIMES.

Oh, and, by the way, she has Type 1 diabetes. . She is an expert carb counter and has done all of her own pricks and injections since day 1. She saw the look on my face…that day in the doctor’s office…and asked me what the BG was. “504” She cried quietly… for a minute or two, while I held her in my arms…and she has never looked back.

I love her with every fiber of my being. She is my daughter and my hero and a person with diabetes. And I am so proud to be her mom!

Guest Post: Off The Beaten Path With Diabetes

Today kicks of a week of Guest Hosts on Diabetesaliciousness because I'm off to Toronto, Canada where I hope to have a few adventures of my own in one of North America's most beautiful cities!
Speaking of adventures, today's Guest Host is Sam Gellman - And he's quite the Explorer/Adventurer, Photographer & PWD.
Sam is traveling the globe, capturing amazing photos and stories and proving that life is what you make of it - And that life with diabetes can be part of a much grander adventure!


I've never met Sam, but I'm certainly inspired by his photos, stories, & his ability to take his diabetes and explore all the world has to offer! And I absolutely know that you'll be inspired too!
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Photo by Sam Gellman

Off the beaten path with Diabetes

When I was diagnosed with diabetes, my life as an explorer was only beginning. I was 17 years old and living in the Netherlands as a foreign exchange student. Living in a foreign country, speaking a different language, and being away from what I was most familiar with made the initial adjustment to Diabetes more difficult, but it did help establish the disease as entirely my own, and I’ve known from the outset that it wasn’t going to get in my way of that much. I didn't see my parents until six months after I was diagnosed.

Fast forward 12 years later, and I’m living in Hong Kong, working in finance and maintaining a small photography business on the side.
When I arrived in Hong Kong five years ago, I didn't realize how much my passion for photography would create a constant ‘need’ to be finding newer and more ‘off the beaten path’ destinations for travel. While in Asia, I have swung through zip lines in the jungles of Laos, flown balloons over Bagan In Burma, and hiked to abandoned monasteries in Bhutan.

Balloons over Bagan

Photo by Sam Gellman

Lucky Monkey?

Photo By Sam Gellman

These trips, however, also make controlling diabetes even more important.
One story from Burma stands out. A foreigner I met had been bitten by a monkey while climbing a mountain a day early.
As the monkeys can carry disease, he went to a doctor for advice. The doctor told him not to worry as he was bitten on the first day of the month, which is traditionally a very lucky day. He ended up ok, but his view of Burmese medicine was tarnished.
This story reminded me that while the third world can be fun and interesting, the emergency medical system for diabetics would seriously lack and all treatment needs to be entirely self-managed and controlled.


With this in mind, I generally have a few rules when I am truly out on the road:


(1) Always have a fully stocked back-up kit, preferably in the hands of someone else.
I lose everything, including diabetes kits. I'm normally exceedingly careful while traveling, but insulin vials can still fall and break and testing kits can be left behind. I don’t think I’ve ever needed a back-up kit, but it helps me sleep at night knowing it’s there.
(2) Don’t get low.
Of course I can’t help but get low reactions at times, as every diabetic can attest to, but I really try to avoid hypoglycemic reactions above all other things. In places like Burma, Laos, or Bhutan, where I always need to be in control, this is my top priority.
I sometimes spend days with higher blood sugar to avoid the risk of being low at the wrong time. Dexcom is incredibly helpful for this.
(3) Always have sugar and insulin on your body.
I try to have two packs of Mentos (they have them throughout Asia), in case I get low and need sugar.
I was once stuck on a zip line in the jungle of Laos, 300 feet above ground, for 45 minutes.


Knowing I had sugar and insulin in case anything happened, made the whole situation a bit more relaxing, at least relatively speaking. I pack tons of rolls of candy and multiple extra viles of insulin, and pack them in as many bags as I can.

Sam Gellman: Explorer/Adventurer, Photographer And Type 1 PWD

I still remember when I was first diagnosed, the initial fear that ran through my head was that I might not be able to travel as freely.
While diabetes certainly gives me a bit more to think about when I travel, I can say that my condition hasn’t prevented me from doing anything that I’ve had my mind set on.
I haven’t figured it all out yet (yep, I still get low sometimes, despite my “rule”… and of course get high when avoiding it), but I am always up to discuss diabetes, travel, photography, or any combination.
I post photography and occasional thoughts on Twitter @SamGellman and have much of my photography at www.itsagoodtimetoexplore.com and can be reached at: sam.gellman@gmail.com.

Calling All Toronto/Great White North Members of The Diabetes On-Line Community

For those Bob & Doug McKenzie fans, the song starts around the 1:24 mark

"Good Day, our topic for today is Canada, as in guess who's going there!'"

After going back and forth way to many times on the dates, my flight is now booked and I'm "taking off to the Great White North," a.k.a, Toronto, Canada on August 15th & returning stateside August 20th.

It's a combo pleasure/work visit and I'm really looking forward to it!

I'm also VERY interested in having a Canadian DOC Meet-up on or around the 18th, somewhere in the fantastical city of Toronto.

If you're up for it and want to get together, either leave me your email address in the comment section and or contact me directly at :kellykunik@gmail.com

BTW, I'm open to suggestions re: locations that you think would work!

It's been YEARS since I've been to Toronto & I can't wait to get back -

And I can't wait to meet up with some Canadian DOCers!

BEAUTY~

Because Of Diabetes.... I Will Never Be A Super Creepy Hand Model

Super Creepy Hand Model..... A career that alas I can never have~

Diabetes has made me notice the small things, like carb counts (which can some times be REALLY BIG,) test strips in unexpected places, and extemporaneous pump tubing on a stranger's person.

It has made me notice people's personality, including those who lack tact, and has helped me to put a bright and shining spotlight on those who possess empathy.
I can look at diabetes accoutrement's with an expert eye and give you a professional opinion as to why it's designed right, or where the flaws lie.

So in someways, diabetes has enhanced my engineering talents - And oh how my 8th Grade Mechanical Drawing teacher be proud!

Diabetes has made me have laser sharp focus what food goes into my body and when, and has made this Literature Major a Diabetes Savant when it comes to numbers, carbs, food, etc.
Diabetes has garunteed that I will NEVER have a career as a hand model - but I'm OK with that.
Especially after viewing this goofy hand model video - See Above!
Diabetes has made me think about the BIG things, like health insurance and my civil liberties regarding TSA patdowns and full body scanners. Diabetes has me always thinking about the threat of complications is always tucked away neatly in the back of my brain, but always there none the less.

Diabetes hasn't stopped me from doing ANYTHING.

Whatever barriers that I came across in my life were because I thought I couldn't do something - And not necessarily because of diabetes.

And for a long time I was guilty of believing others regarding what I could or couldn't do.

Luckily, as I grew older, I grew wiser and now I'm pretty much unstoppable

The only think I can't do because of "the diabetes" is be a super creepy hand model who produces her own insulin - And that's OK, because this >Diazon loves opening life's doors and charging through them - Faulty pancreas or not!