Choicetimes

The problem we face with with Type 1 Diabetes is the absence of insulin. The solution to the problem is to inject insulin subcutaneously; a bit deeper than under the skin but not in the muscle and not directly into the blood stream. In a normal body the insulin is introduced through a duct in the pancreas directly into the digestive track. The solution enables the body to survive but now we are left with a very difficult challenge. We want to try and attain “balanced” blood sugar levels with this synthetically manufactured insulin that is going into the body in an abnormal manner. Not an easy task. Definitely a 10.0+ on the degree of difficulty scale. There are many other challenges that the “solution” presents:

1.) Injected insulin works differently than human insulin. It takes time to take affect and it peaks.

2.) Because normal blood sugar is between 75 and 120 mg/dl we must be aware of not taking too much insulin. If normal was 0 then it would be an easier task. A balance must be struck here. A normal body is always seeking balance (homeostasis) in all of its systems. It does this in the system we are interested in by secreting a “basal” dosage of insulin at all times. It is kind of like flying a plane. Normal functioning maintains an altitude of 80 feet and rarely goes above 140. So the accelerator (insulin) is always on. In a normal body this is done unconsciously.  It recognizes when food has been eaten and secrets just enough to cover it and keep the blood sugar level in the normal range.  It is a perpetual motion system. It is on continuous auto pilot. Type 1 Diabetes means that the accelerator is gone. It’s replacement is not our own, but rather, synthetically produced and  a bit different. Our altimeter is broken. A blood sugar monitor takes its place. A normal body is continuously monitoring altitude and making the appropriate corrections in acceleration. We must manually apply the “new” and foreign accelerator and check our rudimentary altimeter in order to ensure we are “in range” and what direction we are trending.  Talk about flying blind?Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGM’s) have recently been invented and provide a blood sugar result every five minutes. I have a CGM and I recommend getting one. I will talk more about CGM’s later. This process requires 10 finger prick tests throughout the day.

3.) Food is the fuel. A normal body “handles” the food that is digested and maintains blood sugar balance. Because we do not produce insulin we must match the insulin we inject with the food we eat. This presents a myriad of issues. Glucose in the blood comes from Carbohydrate grams and fat grams. Every body is different so the amount of insulin required is different. And it is not an exact science. I will be getting more into insulin dosage and food later in the process.

4.) Physical exertion burns glucose. Less insulin is required.

5.) Other hormones and chemical reactions in the body affect the efficiency of insulin and blood sugar levels. For example, under stress adrenaline is produced and this raises blood sugar.

6.) Illnesses like the common cold reduces the efficiency of insulin. Being sick may require an increase in insulin by 40 to 100%. It depends. As one gets better this requirement will ease back.

7.) When blood sugar levels go high (above 250) insulin works differently.

These are just a few of the challenges that the “solution” presents.  So, perhaps, you can see that this is not a condition in which you can “take your medicine” and watch what you eat  and otherwise live a normal life.  You may be able to survive with this attitude but it will be far from normal. Read the rest of this entry »

Perhaps you have accepted diabetes. Perhaps you cannot or will not. Perhaps you feel you are somewhere in the middle. You are “on it” sometimes and just don’t want to deal with it at other times. Whatever. If you are this far into “Transforming Diabetes” then you have agreed to make it your number one priority for the next 21 days. You may be asking….Why 21 days?? It has been shown in cognitive behavior psychology that it takes 21 days to shift mentally and emotionally from one perspective to the next. This process is about confronting a chronic condition head on. If we do this we will create a shift. Read the rest of this entry »

This is the 2nd “step” in a series of steps in this process. First of all a little more about your host or guide. My name is Michael. I grew up in Upstate NY and am the oldest of four children. I have a brother and two sisters. My childhood was good. I did well in school and played soccer and hockey. When I was diagnosed with diabetes I was 14 and in ninth grade. My parents came back from a vacation and found me incredibly thirsty and peeing all the time. My father, a doctor, became suspicious and sent me to my doctor for blood tests. Normal blood sugar is between 75 to 120 mg/dl. I was in the 500′s. I was admitted into the hospital. I had already gone from 126 to 99 pounds in three days. My body had lost a lot of water and was breaking down. After a few days of insulin injections I was able to gain it all back. I spent a week in the hospital. I was released on Thanksgiving day 1976. Read the rest of this entry »

My objective in producing this series of posts is to ease the suffering that the diagnosis and daily management of diabetes creates.  I will be taking a yogic and a systems approach in communicating what I have experienced, learned, become aware of and applied.

I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 1976 at the age of 14. I have 34 years of experience living with the dis-ease. In the past five years I have had the opportunity to make the management of my diabetes my top priority.

Transforming Diabetes is intended to be informative, enlightening and useful.  Any discussion of diet, insulin, exercise or what to do, or how to do it are what I have done to transform my diabetes and achieve balanced blood sugar.  You should make no change in diet, insulin or exercise unless you feel comfortable doing so. Read the rest of this entry »